202 Account of the Camellia House and Stove 



The position of the new range is precisely the same of the old 

 one, and the entrance to it is in nearly the same place ; the back 

 wall of the old one was built of stone against a high bank, which 

 rises from the north side of the garden. This wall was continued 

 on hi a direct line to the length required, and the position being the 

 same, the old part of the wall answered every purpose of a new 

 one. The height not being great enough, it was carried up with 

 brick work as far as required. The stone work answers as well as 

 brick ; and, in tlie country where bricks are not to be easily pro- 

 cured, we would suggest the erection of back walls with stone, 

 especially when built against a bank. In the construction of the 

 house, as regards light, air, heat, and convenience, every attention 

 has been given. The location is well drained, and pains taken 

 that the house should be as free as possible from all dampness. 

 The facilities for water, which are too often neglected, are very 

 good. The consumption of fuel is very moderate for the size of 

 the house, and the method of heating, which will be particularly 

 described, most excellent. The angle of the roof is greater than 

 is usually given, and, although more than it need be, on some ac- 

 counts is much better for carrying off water, and prevents the con- 

 tinual dripping which occurs in houses with flatter roofs, especially 

 when poorly glazed. In the arrangement of the interior, the 

 health of the plants has been the first object in view. 



The dimensions of the range {figs. 5 and 6) are as follows : — 

 whole length, eighty-two feet ; width, measuring inside, sixteen 

 feet ; height of the back wall, eighteen feet ; of the front one, 

 six feet, including the sashes. Both ends of the range are glass. 

 The stove, which is separated from the conservatory or camellia 

 house by a glass partition, and through which visiters pass, the en- 

 trance from the garden being at that end of the range, occupies 

 twenty-eight feet ; thus leaving the length of the former fifty-four 

 feet. The entrance door (a), is thirty-eight inches wide and six 

 feet high ; the main walk (6 b), through the range, runs from this to 

 the other end, where a sliding door is made, to open in the summer 

 season, which is of the same width as the door, and is covered 

 with handsome marble tile ; the door between the conservatory and 

 stove slides instead of opening. In both compartments are stages 

 for plants (c c), which contain seven shelves each, of about eight 

 inches in width. At each end of the stage in the conserv^atory 

 are spaces (c? (I), covered widi trellis work, which are intended for 

 placing on large specimens of plants that cannot be set upon the 

 stage ; these are about eight feet in length, and of the same width 

 of the stage. In the stove is a similar space, but much smaller. 



In the stove is a pit for plunging in such plants as require bot- 

 tom heat to make them flourish well, and also for many uses in 

 stove propagation. This pit is twenty-two feet long and four and 

 a half wide ; the back wall is about two feet four inches high 



