324 



CASSELL'S POPULAR GARDEXIXG. 



SUBUEBAK GAEDENTNGT. 



By jAiiES Hudson. 



THE GREENHOUSE AND CONSERVATORY. 



THIS addition to small suburban and villa gar- 

 dens can be made very enjoyable, and thus 

 afford the means of recreation and amusement when 

 the weather is unpropitious for out-of-door occupa- 

 tions. It often happens, however, that the struc- 

 ture is erected in some out-of-the-way corner of the 

 garden, with an unsuitable aspect, or overshadowed 

 with trees ; or else, when attached to the house itself, 

 it is so arranged as to be of little use for successful 

 plant culture, either by reason of its indifferent con- 

 struction to attain these ends, or by the position in 

 which it has been erected. No thought in the latter 

 case is often exercised in respect to the beneficial in- 

 fluence of the sun's rays upon indoor plant life. 



Position. — As regards the aspect in which a 

 house for plant gi'owth is to be erected, it is neces- 

 sary to say that south, south-west, or west are in 

 every respect far better than any other point of the 

 compass. East or south-east would possibly be more 

 exposed to cold piercing winds, as well as catching 

 the early sun in the morning, before, in some cases 

 perhaps, any attention could be conveniently given 

 to ventilation or the more immediate requirements of 

 the plants themselves. Should the temperature 

 have declined too low, the first-named aspects would 

 be much better during the winter months. Then 

 the plants would not be so likely to suffer by expo- 

 sure to the sun's rays after having been in danger- 

 ous proximity to the freezing-point. We therefore 

 advise both the noi'therly and easterly aspects to be 

 avoided in every possible case. 



In the event of span-roofed houses being chosen 

 in preference to the lean-to, we would still prefer 

 the same aspect in all small erections, but we do not 

 advise this class of house to be erected in such gar- 

 dens. They are more liable to sudden variations in 

 temperature than the lean-to ; especially is this the 

 case in small erections. The lean-to has the advan- 

 tage of shelter, and will in most cases be found to 

 maintain a higher temperature, and withstand the 

 inroad of frost without so much artificial heat- 

 ing. 



Small houses for the culture of plants are also fre- 

 quently built too high, causing the plants to become 

 imduly drawn up or attenuated in their growth. 

 Height oftentimes has to do duty for more superfi- 

 cial space, and shelves for the plants, tier above 

 tier, are arranged as a compensation thereto. These 

 positions, however, are not desirable places for the 

 successful growth of plants, the drip from one row 

 of plants falling on to those beneath them. In 



order to remedy this as much as possiljle, the shelves 

 should graduate in width ; each of them should also 

 be fixed a short distance away f lom the wall when 

 arranged for in such a position, keeping the nar- 

 rowest one as a matter of course at the tO}). This- 

 would be a very good plan to follow when any wall- 

 space has to be covered, but a better way still would 

 be to plant climbing plants to attain these ends, 

 with one fairly wide shelf only within easy access 

 for the use of the water-pot. The endeavour 

 thi'oughout should be to secure the maximum of 

 light for the growth and healthy de^-elopment of the 

 plants, and yet contrive to cultivate as great a 

 variety as possible. 



Shade. — We strongly advise climbing plants also 

 for the roof, and if one is named in preference to- 

 any other it is Passifora cceruUa^ the Blue Passion 

 Flower. It is one of the easiest plants to manage, 

 and would afford an excellent means of shading for 

 ihe roof during the summer months. Care must, 

 however, be taken to keep the shoots from becoming 

 entangled with each other to any extent, thus 

 causing a dense shade to be imparted to the plants 

 beneath it. As the autumn advances the shoots 

 should be carefully thinned out to let in more light, 

 and those that are left can be tied into bunches of 

 three or four each, and opened out equally over the 

 roof again in the spring, when signs of active growth 

 are apparent. Several other climbing plants could be 

 used with every hope of successful culture. Lapa- 

 geria rosea and L. alba ; Tacsonia Van Volxemii, a 

 species of Passion Flower ; Solanum jasminoides ; 

 Habrothamnus elegans and Cobcea scandens, with its 

 variegated-leaved form, would either of them prove 

 well worthy of cultivation. The two last-named 

 genera would be of somewhat robust growth, and 

 therefore excellent subjects to cover a wall of more- 

 than usual dimensions. The natural means thus 

 advised to be employed as a means of shading the 

 roof woTild be far preferable to either a blind to roll 

 up and down the roof, or that disagreeable and un- 

 sightly method of besmearing the glass with whiten- 

 ing to attain the desired end. Unless any objection- 

 able outlook on either side has to be studied, clear 

 glass is far preferable to emplopng any kind that 

 would obstruct the light. If any medium to break 

 the view is needed, we would prefer glass of a pale 

 green tint in lieu of either ground or rolled plate 

 glass. 



The floor of the interior of the structure should be 

 so arranged as to allow sufficient space for soil 

 wherein to plant the climbing plants. The re- 

 mainder of the surface might be advantageously 

 paved, according to taste, and thus be easier kept 

 sweet and clean. If the house is elevated above the 



