172 GARDENS: THEIR FORM AND DESIGN 



ORANGERIES 



In some old gardens we find orangeries similar in 

 design to that very perfect one in Kensington Gardens, 

 or to the one at Osterly. They were intended for the 

 winter housing of tender plants grown in square wooden 

 boxes or ornamental pots. Here was a warm winter 

 home for the bay-trees, myrtles, oleanders, which in 

 summer were placed round the house to give height and 

 variety to the pleasure-grounds. 



Surely such solid brick-built, artistic houses are more 

 useful, as well as more ornamental, than a large glass 

 conservatory or hot-house, where specimen tropical 

 plants are grown but seldom carefully looked at by the 

 owner. Usually such rare and interesting plants are 

 better kept and enjoyed at Kew, for it is only from 

 botanical interest that more than a passing visit is 

 willingly paid to a heated glass-house. If plants are to 

 be healthy, watering has to be continually done, and this 

 adds to the difficulty of making such a building comfort- 

 able as a retreat for talking or smoking. 



There seems no reason why the old-fashioned, stately 

 orangery should not be revived ; and added to it could 

 be an upper story, where a room of similar length and 

 shape would be utilized for entertainments, should they 

 take place in winter when plants occupy the downstair 

 floor. In summer, when all the great shrubs and trees 

 are outside decorating pleasure-grounds, the space would 

 be vacant for an additional happy refuge in case of rain 

 at garden parties. 



Something of the same sort, only more decorative, is 

 suggested from recollections of that most perfect miniature 

 " Jagdschloss " at Nymphenburg, near Munich. The 

 name of this lovely little moonlight palace is Amalienburg, 

 and although it is designated as a hunting-box, the delicate 



