HOTHOUSES. 79 



to support the stage and hide the pipes ; or it may have a slate plant- 

 rest with iron supports ; or it may have wooden laths with half-inch 

 spaces between, on which to stand the plants, with upright wooden 

 supports and lattice work. The height of the cornice or springing 

 of the roof should be about n ft, with a transom i ft. 6 in. or 2 ft. 

 below this, allowing an upper light to open for ventilation. The 

 pitch of the roof is preferably 30, as this angle makes the roof 

 half a hexagon, and so facilitates the use of a semicircular rib 

 as a principal, should the design require such construction, and it 

 is also desirable to have an upper part or lantern with lights 

 opening for ventilation. Ventilation should be also given at the 

 bottom by allowing the outside air to pass over the pipes directly 

 through gratings built in the base of the house, or, better still, by 

 taking the outside air through an opening into a channel running 

 inside the pipes, and allowing the air to pass through to the 

 pipes by regular openings. No horizontal sash-bars should be 

 fixed at the height of 5 ft. or 5'/ 2 ft. from the floor-line, as the line 

 of sight is thereby cut. The floor of a conservatory can be made 

 with marble mosaic pavement, or with tiles of subdued colours. 

 Bright greens and reds should be specially avoided. Pipes below 

 the floor should be covered with a perforated brass grating, or, 

 if expense be much considered, by an iron one, care being taken 

 that the pattern be sufficiently small to prevent the heels of ladies' 

 boots being caught in it. Assuming a stage to be placed next the glass 

 sides, the centre may have a tiered stage ; but the space is preferably 

 occupied by a bed surrounded by marble or stone edging. There 

 must be a drain-pipe from the bottom of such a bed. It is very 

 desirable to have space not only for the walk, which should not be 

 less than 4 ft. wide, but also for chairs, tables, statuary, etc. The back 

 wall can be built plainly, or, as at Hitherwood, of alabaster, and treated 

 ornamentally with water pouring from a lion's head into a shell 



