8(i THE GREEN-HOUSE. [Jan. 



require protection from frost only, not needing aid of artificial heat 

 like stove plants, which are generally natives of the hottest regions, 

 except in very severe weather; but the aid of a moderate fire, 

 burned in a furnace contrived outside, either in the end or back 

 wall, communicating the heat to the flues or funnels ranging along 

 the inside, will be necessary not only in severe frosts, but also 

 in moist foggy weather; a moderate fire now and then will 

 dry up the damps, which would otherwise prove pernicious to 

 several of the more tender kinds, especially to those of succulent 

 habits. 



A green-house should generally stand in the pleasure ground, 

 and if possible, upon a somewhat elevated and dry spot fronting 

 the south, and where the sun has full access from its rising to set- 

 ting; the building ought to be of brick or stone, having the front 

 almost wholly of glass work, ranging lengthwise east and west, 

 and constructed upon an ornamental plan. 



As to its general dimensions, with respect to length, width and 

 height, it may be from ten to fifty feet or more long, according to 

 the number of plants which you intend it should contain, and its 

 width in the clear, from ten or fifteen to twenty feet; though for a 

 middle sized house fifteen or eighteen feet is sufficient; its height 

 to the top of the upright front glasses equal to its width; as to erect- 

 ing rooms over it, as is commonly directed, I disapprove of, such 

 being not only an additional and unnecessary expense, but they 

 give the building a heavy appearance; on the contrary all pieces 

 of garden architecture ought to display a light, gay and sprightly 

 taste. 



The walls of the back and ends should be carried up three bricks, 

 or about two feet three inches thick, the more effectually to keep 

 out frost; a furnace ought to be erected outside, either in the back 

 wall or one of the ends, as before observed, communicating with 

 flues within, ranging in two or three returns along the back wall, 

 with only a brick on edge, with the plastering between them and 

 the inside; also one flue running along the front and end walls, 

 raised wholly above the. floor; and as to the front of the building it 

 should have as much glass as possible, and a wide glass door should 

 be in the middle, both for ornament and entrance, and for moving 

 in and out the plants; a small door at the end for entrance in severe 

 weather will be found of considerable utility. 



The width of the windows for the glass sashes may be five or 

 six feet, and the piers between them may be either of timber, six, 

 eight or ten inches wide, according to their height, or if of brick 

 or stone, they must be about two feet wide, sloping both sides of 

 each pier inward, that by taking oft* the angles a more free admis- 

 sion may be given to the rays of the sun; the bottom sashes must 

 reach within a foot or eighteen inches of the floor of the house, and 

 their top reach within eight or ten inches of the ceiling; and if 

 brick or stone piers two feet wide, folding shutters may be hung 

 inside to fall back against each pier. 



In the modern construction of green-houses, in order to have as 

 much glass as possible in front, the piers between the sashes are 



