EMBELLISHMENTS. 379 



ner altogether superior to those in pots. The allusion to na- 

 ture is also more complete in the case of plants growing in the 

 ground ; and from the objects all being on the same level, and 

 easily accessible, they are with more facility kept in that per- 

 fect nicety and order which an elegant plant-house should 

 always exhibit. 



On the other hand, the green-house will contain by far 

 the largest number of plants, and the same may be more 

 easily changed or renewed at any time ; so that for a partic- 

 ular taste, as that of a botanical amateur, who wishes to sfrow 

 a great number of species in a small space, the green-house 

 will be found preferable. Whenever either the conservatory 

 or green-house is of moderate size, and intended solely for 

 private recreation, we would in every case, when such a 

 thing is not impossible, have it attached to the house ; com- 

 municating by a glass door with the drawing-room, or one 

 of the living rooms. Nothing can be more gratifying than a 

 vista in winter through a glass door down the walk of a con- 

 servatory, bordered and overhung with the fine forms of tro- 

 pical vegetation, — golden oranges glowing through the dark 

 green foliage, and gay corrollas lighting up the branches of 

 Camellias, and other floral favourites. Let us add the ex- 

 ultino: song- of a few Canaries, and the enchantment is com- 

 plete. How much more refined and elevated is the taste 

 which prefers such accessories to a dwelling, rather than 

 costly furniture, or an extravagant display of plate ! 



The best and most economical form for a conservatory is 

 a parallelogram — the deviation from a square being greater 

 or less according to circumstances. When it is joined to the 

 dwelling by one of its sides, (in the case of the parallelogram 

 form,) the roof need only slope in one way, that is from the 

 house. When one of the e?ids of the conservatory joins the 



