G 1 4 Domestic Notices : — England. 



braces, and the additional expense being considerable, the contractor, who 

 was not so well aware as he should have been of the risk he ran, refused 

 to provide them. The scaffolding was afterwards removed, and the iron- 

 work came to its full bearing ; when, immediately, the ribs began to swerve 

 from the perpendicular, and slowly bent into serpentine lines : so that, 

 when viewed directly edgewise, every arch (consisting, as before described, 

 of two opposite ribs) presented the appearance of a double circumflex, or 

 elongated figure of 8. Thus all the ribs were obviously bending sidewise, 

 and not edgewise more than was the natural consequence of such lateral 

 flexure. The bending continued to increase ; when, at length, some of the 

 purlins were observed by the workmen to crack : and then, the general 

 strain becoming greater than the elasticity of cast-iron could sustain flat- 

 wise, the v/hole centre of the fabric fell in, breaking with a report like the 

 running fire of light artillery ; giving out, at the same time, such a galaxy 

 of immense sparks, as to produce the effect of a powerful flash of lightning. 



" Notwithstanding this catastrophe, the wreck, I am happy to say, is not 

 so great as might ha.ve been expected : more than half the ironwork is. 

 still in a perfect state, and the brickwork is nearly undamaged. If, there- 

 fore, the matter be pubhcly taken up (as an object so attractive to this. 

 distinguished town should be), advantage may be taken of the present 

 mishap to remedy the defective construction : and what has at first 

 appeared a fatal misfortune, may afford the means of perfecting that which, 

 in a complete state, would certainly be one of the most extraordinary and 

 magnificent structures in Europe. I am. Sir, yours, &c. — C. A. Busbt/. 

 1. Stanhope Place, Urunsmich Terrace , Sept. 5. 1833." 



Though we do not consider a dome of any kind as the most suitable 

 form for growing exotic plants, either from the temperate or tropical 

 regions, yet we should have been gkd to see the antheum completed, for 

 the sake of its projector, Mr. Phillips. When, however, it is seriously 

 contemplated to grow house plants in quantity together, and to a large 

 size, a square or parallelogram will be found the most advantageous, 

 ground plan, with a ridge and furrow roof, supported by cast-iron pillars, 

 which might be raised as the plants advanced in size. Such a house, 

 whatever might be its extent, would be a mere repetition of two or three 

 very simple parts in straight lines, and would, therefore, cost very little ; 

 at least, not one half per superficial foot so much as a dome of such pro- 

 portions as the antheum. A dome is calculated to have a very grand 

 appearance when seen from without ; and also, if comparativelj' empty, 

 when seen from within i but, when filled with plants, the domical form,, 

 and the circumstance of its being without interior supports, pass for 

 nothing. Any one will be convinced of this who has had an opportunity 

 of examining the exterior and interior of the dome at Syon ; or of that 

 recently taken, down at Britton Hall. Circular houses, composed of a 

 succession of roofs, supported by pillars, such as we recommended for the 

 Birmingham Botanic Garden (Vol. VIII. p. 420. and 422.), are totally 

 different constructions, and are scarcely more expensive than the square 

 or parallelogram which we recommend ; while their interior effect is equal 

 to that of any dome whatever. Let it not be forgotten, that the vastness 

 of the hemispherical roof is totally lost in the interior, when the house is. 

 entirely or even in part filled with trees. — Cond. 



The Collection of Plants of the late A.^H. Haivorth, Esq., who died suddenly 

 on Aug. 24., consistingchiefly of succulents and bulbs, is to be disposed of 

 while the season permits safe removal. The collection consists of above 

 160 species of .^loe; 330 Mesembryanthemum ; 25 Cotyledon; 20 Ca- 

 calia ; 1 1 Rullng/a, or ylnacampseros ; 2 1 Havvorthfa ; together with nume- 

 rous species of Crassula, Mammillaria, jSedum, »S'empervivum, Echever/fl;,. 

 &c. &c. ; amounting in the whole, including duplicates, to nearly one 

 thousand pots. We believe that an offer for these has been accepted. 



