CISTERNS. 17 



CISTERNS. 



jIHBSE are very necessary in all houses devoted 

 to plant growing, as the rain water, which 

 may thus be collected from the roofs, is the 

 very best that can be used. To have this water in a 

 proper state for the plants, the cistern or tank must be 

 inside the house, and so exposed that the water may 

 become nearly of the same temperature as the atmo- 

 sphere ; cold water applied to the roots of stove plants is 

 most pernicious. Therefore, having fixed on the most 

 convenient part of the house for the tank, build up 

 the sides from the floor, making the top of the centre 

 table the top, or if more convenient sink it below the 

 ground level. In the latter case, it would be desirable 

 to have a pipe in connection with the boiler passing 

 through it, for the water, when stored below the sur&ce, 

 wiU be much colder than the atmosphere of the house. 

 The best material for cisterns is slate, but brickwork, 

 with a good coating of Portland cement, will answer the 

 purpose equally well, and these materials are perhaps 

 to be preferred when the cistern is placed below the 

 ground level. 



SHADINa. 



HERB is a great want of some better material 

 than we yet possess for shading plant struc- 

 tures — a material which shall possess suflScient 



strength, without being so thick as to cast too deep a 

 gloom over the interior of the house. We are extremely 

 sorry that all attempts to supply the want have up to 



