Conservatory at the Grange. 109 



confined a stratum of air, to prevent the escape of heat. 

 The bottom of the beds (m) are of a concave form, that the 

 drainage may go to the centre ; under each bed there are three 

 dry wells, filled with large rough flints, laid as hollow as 

 possible: as the wells are sunk in the chalk, any drain from 

 them was unnecessary. The hollow (h) along the middle 

 was also laid with flints, and the whole bottom covered with a 

 layer of brick-bats &c. about 1 8 inches deep ; on this was laid 

 a thin layer of coarse shingly gravel, still keeping the concave 

 form. The bottom being thus finished, the depth left for 

 soil is, in the back bed, along the centre, 4 feet 6 inches ; 

 and at the sides 3 feet 6 inches ; thus giving the greater depth 

 for the large plants in the centre. The front bed, being 

 intended for plants generally of a more humble growth, is 

 3 feet 6 inches deep along the middle, and at the sides 3 feet. 

 These were filled up in the following manner : first with a 

 layer of thick rough turf, laid loosely and hollow by doubling 

 them up, always keeping the grass side inmost ; over this was 

 thrown some clean water gravel, just enough to fill the 

 hollow left amongst the turf; the layer was about one foot in 

 thickness : the turf had been some time cut and exposed 

 to the sun and air, &c. The next layer, about the same depth, 

 was surface loam with the turf chopped up a little, and mixed 

 with the most rooty and heathy part of a quantity of bog or 

 heath soil, amongst which was thrown some sandy water 

 gravel. While this was doing, care was taken to prevent 

 any one from treading upon what was already laid. Thus 

 far both beds were treated alike ; and excepting in the front 

 one, both layers were only about 18 inches in thickness. 



The following four soils were previously prepared ; viz. light 

 dark loam ; yellow mellow loam of a stronger quality ; sandy 

 bog, all cut with the turf laid in ridges, and frequently turned 

 until perfectly sweet and mellow ; and, the same sort of bog 

 soil, only cut more recently, so that the turf was not rotted down 

 like the others. For the back bed, the above was mixed in 

 nearly equal quantities, to which was added some sandy 

 gravel ; this mixture was laid about 2 feet thick and then trod 

 evenly over, and near the top the chopped turf was omitted 

 and sand substituted in place of gravel. For the front bed 

 equal quantities of bog and loam were used, adding the chopped 

 turf and small gravel until within a foot of the surface. The 

 turf was then omitted, and sand used in place of gravel, 

 excepting in two places intended for clumps of camellias ; and 

 there two parts of loam and one of bog were used quite up 

 to the surface. Allowance was made for the ground set- 

 tling, and when planted, loam, sand, bog, turf, gravel, or 



