606 'Different Modes ()f glcizing 



Art. VII. On different Modes of glazing Hothouses, Pits, Sfc. By 

 James Seymour, Kitchen-Gardener to the Countess of Bridge- 

 water. 



There are few subjects on which gardener's differ more than 

 the glazing of plant structures. In some old gardens there are 

 several sorts of glazing to be found, both as to the shape and size 

 of panes. Some gardeners are advocates for large panes, as 

 they give more light by not having so many laps as the small 

 ones ; but I do not like the large ones for several reasons. In 

 the first place, they are more likely to be broken by moving the 

 lights in giving air, and with hail storms, frost, &c. ; and, 

 secondly, when there is a pane broken, it lets in much more air 

 than a small one, besides costing more to replace it 



Suppose a vinery or peach-house to be glazed with panes 

 10 in. deep by 6| wide, with an unputtied lap, it will be found 

 after a severe winter that many of the panes are split up the 

 middle, and that when taken out they are only fit for patching, 

 work which, at all times and in all structures, looks very un- 

 sightly. I have had an early vinery of this description under 

 my charge, and well know the inconvenience of large panes I 

 have very often thought there ought to be three or four sizes 

 of panes used in horticultural structures ; say the largest size 

 for vineries, peach-houses, fig-houses, &c. ; the next size for 

 pits for growing pines, melons, cucumbers, &c. ; the next size 

 for frames ; and the smallest size for hand-glasses. 



In many of the gardens it will be found that the vineries and 

 pits are glazed with the same-sized panes, so that when any of the 

 panes come to have a corner broken off, they must be removed to 

 insure the house being kept dry, and when they are taken out, 

 they cannot be used in the pits, on account of their being the 

 same size ; but, had the panes in the pits been of a smaller size 

 than those of the vinery, then, in all probability, they would have 

 come in well without much loss. 



Suppose there were a regular repair going on in one of the 

 vineries, a great many of the panes will be found blemished and 

 not fit to remain, but they would still be found large enough for 

 the pits and frames without much loss. 



When there is a general repair going on with the hothouses, 

 the glazier ought to begin with the largest-sized pane first, and 

 work down to the smallest, and not, as frequently is the case, 

 cut a large piece of glass to replace a small one. 



In m}'^ opinion there are no better-sized panes for hot-houses 

 than 7 in. wide by 4j deep; for pits, 4| by 3 in. deep; for 

 frames, 4 by 2^ in. deep, &c., with a lap of ^ of an inch: the 

 glass to be clear, stout, and selected as flat and even as pos- 

 sible, so that the laps may be perfectly in contact one upon 



