THE 



GARDENER'S MAGAZINE, 



FEBRUARY, 1841. 



ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS. 



Art. I. Some Remarks on the Economising oj" Surfaces under Glass ; 

 the Ititroduction of artificial Heat to Fruit Borders ; and the At- 

 tainment of Bottom as well as Surface Heat from the same Heating 

 Apparatus. Illustrated by Plans and Sections. By N. Niven, Esq., 

 Landscape-Gardener and Garden Architect, &c. 



Every superficial foot of surface under glass being, from its 

 expensiveness and consequent value, of importance to the hor- 

 ticulturist, a few observations bearing on the economical 

 appropriation of such surfaces may, to some of the readers of the 

 Gardener's Magazine, be neither unwelcome nor uninteresting. 

 Having for several years past been paying particular attention 

 to the consideration of this subject, and being convinced, both 

 from observation and experience, that many improvements may 

 still be made in the internal arrangements of particular hot- 

 houses, I now, with a view to this, submit to the discriminating 

 and experienced editor of this work, the accompanying plans 

 and sections ; simply premising that they are those of a house 

 lately erected near Dublin, under my immediate directions; 

 and, so far as I can judge from a few months' working, it 

 promises to realise my best expectations. Although it is well 

 that each respective division of an extensive range of fruit-houses 

 should be appropriated chiefly to some one particular purpose, 

 as, for example, peaches, vines, &c., still I have long considered 

 it desirable that some one at least of such houses should be so 

 arranged as to be made more generall}' useful than is usual, 

 as a fruit and forcing house throughout the year. Such a house 

 I consider important, even to those who can afford to put up 

 extensive ranges of hot-houses, but more especial!}' to such 

 persons as might not have it in their power to erect separate 

 divisions for separate purposes. As briefly as possible, then, I 

 proceed to explain the details of the plans and sections {Jigs. 13. 

 to 17.) alluded to. The dimensions of the metal-roofed house de- 

 lineated are, within walls, GO ft. in length, by 14 ft. 6 in. in width, 

 and 14- ft. 6 in. is the height of the back wall from the level of 

 the floor within ; thus obtaining with the semicurvilinear bar 

 1841.— II. 3d Ser. e 



