and Suburban Gardens. 349 



Length, 58ft. external measure; breadth, 10ft. Din, external measure; 

 height in the centre, 9 ft. 6 in.; height of brickwork above ground, 4 ft. j 

 height of front lights, and top and bottom plate, 2 ft. 4 in. 



The plates are 4iin. by Sin. in the rough, and an eighth is reduced by 

 planing. The bars are 3 in. by 1. in. in the rough, and are reduced by 

 planing to 2\ in. by i of an inch. A stronger bar of 3 in. by 2 in., reduced 

 to 2J in. by If in., coupled with one of similar strength at distances of 3 ft. 

 6 in. throughout the whole length of the roof, and to these the cast-iron 

 ties in the centre of the house are screwed. The width of the walk is 3 ft. ; 

 the width of the platform on each side of the walk is 3 ft. 6 in. On these 

 the plants are set. The walls are one brick or 9 in. thick ; the glass used 

 is in panes of 7 in. by 5 in. or thereabouts. The upright lights are all re- 

 movable at pleasure ; and when a fourth of them are partially opened a 

 thorough ventilation is produced. Were all the front lights, which are 

 hung by separating hinges, taken away, the house would be merely a glass 

 awning. The size of the house was regulated by Messrs. Chandler and 

 Buckingham's impression of the capability of one fire to answer the purpose 

 of excluding frost in the severest weather ; and this it does completely. 



This house fully answers the purpose for which it was intended. The 

 heaths and other plants in it are in a thriving state, and on the cross ties is 

 Calampelis scabra, which last summer produced seed. This plant and 

 CohcB^a scandens have continued growing during the winter. There are 

 various other climbers, two to each rafter, which during summer prove 

 highly ornamental. 



The show-house here is heated by hot water, by Kewley, on the siphon 

 principle, and is one of the most perfect specimens of that mode of heating. 

 Among its numerous ornaments are those common but now rather neglected 

 shrubs, Coronilla glaiica and valentina, both covered with bloom. These 

 species, and also Coronilla pentaphylla, argentea, and viminiilis, all frame 

 plants, and flowering the greater part of the season, are well deserving a 

 place in all green-houses liable to be occasionally neglected, and where, of 

 course, finer plants die off from cold, or from too much or too little water. 

 They are also well adapted for training against a wall ; to be protected 

 during winter by glass or mats, and exposed to the free air during summer. 

 Azaleas, rhododendrons, i^hododendron dauricum atrovirens, i?hod6ra 

 canadensis, Daphne odora, &c., make a fine appeai'ance here and in the 

 show-houses of other nurseries. 



The camellia-houses are, of course, filled with the most extensive col- 

 lection about London ; that genus having long been the particular study 

 of Messrs. Chandler, who may truly be said to have done more for camel- 

 lias in ten years, than the Chinese have done from the beginning of the 

 world. The beautiful work, of which the drawings are by Mr. Chandler, 

 jun., and the descriptions by Mr. Booth, is well known and every where 

 admired. Among the species now in bloom are the striped, Kew blush, 

 single white, rdthaeiflora, waratah, and perhaps about half a dozen others. 

 There are also several unnamed and very distinct seedlings beginning to 

 expand their flowers. The grand show is generally from the middle of 

 March to the middle of April ; when nothing of the kind, in any part of the 

 world, can be more splendid. 



In consequence of having a number of well established stools, which 

 make long vigorous shoots, several of the best sorts are here propagated 

 by layers instead of grafting ; which is a great improvement, both as saving 

 labour to the nurseryman and producing a more valuable article to the 

 purchaser. If the upper part of a grafted camellia by any chance die, the 

 stock, being only the single red, is of little value; but, if the upper part of 

 a plant raised from a cutting or a layer die, the lower part, the collar, or 

 even the root, may send up shoots which will form as valuable a plant 

 as the original one. Against a wall with a north-west aspect, the single 



