FRAMES AND GLASS-HOUSES. 



73 



The southern side is chiefly made of boards, covered with tarred as- 

 phalted felt, which is a bad conductor 

 of heat and a great protection against 

 frost. In conformity with more ex- 

 tended experience of the value of light 

 to ferns, I have placed some glass on 

 the southern side ; but trees have been 

 planted in front, so that in summer the 

 leaves keep off the rays of the burn- 

 ing sun. In winter, however, when the 



FIG. 86. Door of Fernery. 



leaves have dropped, abundance of light penetrates into the house 

 through their naked branches, to the great benefit of the plants. 



A stream of water runs through the fernery, which is dilated, at 

 one place, into a pond, and though the house is a mere roofing of glass 

 supported on posts, it is universally admired as a very beautiful place : 

 Mr. Robertson has very faithfully rendered it in his drawing (plate 19). 

 The view of it is taken facing the west the instant the house is entered ; 

 and the little bird in it is one of the poor frozen birds caught during 

 the snow and ice of winter, which luxuriated and cleared the house 

 of insects, but which flew away to its native haunts as soon as it could 

 find a hole through which it could escape. 



In this house I desired to grow ferns from all parts of the world, that 

 they may be seen at a glance ; and thus I required a house varying in 

 temperature from the tropical to the temperate climates. It requires 

 much thought to obtain this result in any given house, especially where 

 currents of air and draughts are objectionable. The result has been 

 perfectly obtained on the first design, by raising the floor at the warmer 

 end, by placing more rows of hot-water pipes in the part of the house 

 between the door and the end desired to be warmer, and by preventing 

 the currents of hot air traversing the length of the roof by the inter- 

 position of screens of climbing plants. The transition in winter from 

 this lovely scene of ferns and flowers to the equally lovely scene outside 

 of frost and snow is enchanting. Plate 19 shows the beauty inside; 

 the tailpiece of this book shows the aspect of the country and view 



