206 CULTIVATION. 



especially the towering palms, plantains, &c. 

 have space to throw out their ample and persist- 

 ing foliage. Every plant in such a place ap- 

 pears in something like its natural character; 

 and, though the want of such buildings has been 

 long regretted, it is only lately that such houses 

 have been erected. Some splendid things of 

 the kind have been executed, and others are in 

 progress. Circumstances favourable to such 

 designs have conspired to facilitate such under- 

 takings ; better taste, curvilinear iron roofs, and 

 much improved means of obtaining the neces- 

 sary degree of heat, have all tended to realize 

 what has only heretofore been a gardener's 

 dream. 



This is not the place to enlarge on what maybe 

 done in this way. But, certainly, one handsome 

 building as a conservatory, divided by glazed 

 partitions, to contain a choice selection of tender 

 plants from every clime, would be far preferable 

 to the miserable shed-like buildings which now 

 disfigure almost every garden in Britain. It 

 only requires a proper distribution of heat to 



