CHAP. II. CONSEKVATOKIES AND GLASSHOUSES. 35 



CONSEKVATOKIES AND GLASSHOUSES. 



Glass conservatories, or greenhouses, in the Bengal Presidency, 

 until lately have been all but unknown. One, indeed, was 

 erected some time ago by Sir Lawrence Peel in his grounds at 

 Garden Keach ; but from mismanagement, or from unfitness of 

 the locality in which it was placed, being under the shade and 

 drip of a large tree, it proved of little use ; and one, subsequently, 

 by Captain Tronson against the side of his house in the 

 premises of the Peninsular and Oriental Company at Garden 

 Reach, which presented a delightfully ornamental appearance, 

 being kept scrupulously neat and clean, and filled with a variety 

 of Ferns, Begonias, Achimenes, &c. What are usually called 

 conservatories here are nothing more than mere thatched sheds, 

 with the sides open all round. Such places are serviceable for 

 sheltering the more delicate plants, which otherwise would be 

 destroyed by the sun and the heavy rains ; but from want of 

 sufficient light the plants rarely thrive well in them. The cost 

 of glass-houses, however, though not excessive, is more perhaps 

 than many Europeans would care to incur, from the great 

 uncertainty as to the length of their stay in India, or of their 

 remaining, while there, long in the same locality. But in 

 the gardens of the wealthy native gentlemen in the vicinity of 

 Calcutta, the expense of a greenhouse would be quite a trifle 

 compared with the great ornament and advantage it would 

 afford. Buildings of glass, moreover, supplied with the means 

 of being heated artificially, during the cold months especially, 

 might in all likelihood afford the facility of cultivating many 

 plants and fruits, which otherwise it would be hopeless to look 

 for on this side of India. The great difficulty no doubt will be 

 found in supplying to the plants a due amount of ventilation ; 

 and in Lower India, especially during the Kains, unless con- 

 siderable attention be given to this point, numerous losses will 

 be sure to occur. 



In the Government Botanical Gardens a small greenhouse has 

 been erected, which has been found of great advantage for the 

 cultivation of Ferns, Begonias, &c. And at Lahore Dr. G. 

 Henderson and Mr. L. Berkeley have had similar structures, 

 which they assured me proved of inestimable service to them. 



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