HOUSE, AREA, AND WINDOW GARDENING. 



195 



In many houses it would be practicable to cover 

 the "balcony with a light roof of glass, and to hang 

 up a curtain in front in very severe weather ; this 

 would convert the balcony into a green-house for the 

 time being, particularly if the curtain were drawn 



As, however, many houses are run up by specula- 

 tive builders without architectural supervision, it is 

 prudent to satisfy oneself that the balcony will not 

 come down under the load which it is proposed to 

 make it carry. In order to obtain useful inf ormation 



Fig. 29. — A Window Garden*. 



somewhat tight, and were made of tiffany, or some 

 other thin material. 



Strength of Balconies.— "When engineers 

 have to construct iron bridges for railways, it is 

 their practice to design them of such strength that 

 they will bear four times the greatest weight which 

 is ever likely to be placed upon them. Similar care 

 should be taken by architects in regard to balconies. 



on this point from a competent person, one must be 

 prepared with a reply to this natural inquiry — " AVhat 

 weight do you propose to put on that balcony ? " 



Before answering this question it is necessary to 

 know something about the weight of plants, the 

 principal portion of the load to be carried. 



Weight of Plants in Pots. — Let us suppose 

 that that portion of a balcony which is to be covered 



