CHAPTER VIII. 



CONSERVATORIES AND GLASS-HOUSES. 



CONSERVATORIES and greenhouses for the cultivation 

 of choice tropical plants, or for the protection of 

 those of a delicate nature during the winter months, 

 have been, until within the last few years, compara- 

 tively unknown in the smaller gardens of this country. 

 Many large plant houses, however, exist in the first- 

 class gardens in Cairo, though, perhaps, their beauty 

 is not so great to-day as it was formerly. In some 

 cases these houses have been purchased and re-erected 

 by private individuals in different parts of the country, 

 and others, following their example, have brought iron 

 houses from Europe, or built them in a more tem- 

 porary manner with wood ; but, unfortunately, in most 

 cases the houses present anything but a pleasing 

 effect, owing to the inability of the native gardeners 

 to manage them, and who overshade, and neglect to 

 ventilate and clean them, besides often filling them 

 with weak and common plants which would do much 

 better in the open air. 



In the more modern gardens a small number of 

 well-kept glass-houses have lately sprung up, and a few 

 wealthy amateurs have spared no trouble or expense, 

 in getting together a choice collection of tropical foliage 

 plants, ferns, orchids, tender climbers, and others. 



There are two kinds of glass-houses in Egypt : the 

 first where the health of the plants are considered. 



