ASPECT FOR A GREENHOUSE. 



5 



lu regard to situation, sometliing depends on the taste of thxe owner, 

 the style of his mansion, the extent and position of his garden, the species 

 of enjoyment he is most desirous of obtaining, but much more on that 

 situation being as much as possible exposed to the full influence of light 

 and air, and as fi'ee from the shade of trees or buildings as possible. It is 

 not necessarj^, however, for ordinary purposes, that the greenhouse should 

 exactly front the meridian sun, for whether it be placed immediately in 

 connection with the mansion, or stand as an object of decoration in the 

 flower garden or shrubbery, its front (all other circumstances being favour- 

 abie) may be either to the south, south-east, south-west, or any of the 

 points of the compass which intervene. 



No species of horticultui-al structure admits of such a variety of modi- 

 fications as that now under consideration, and hence it is that we see 

 plant houses in every diversity of relation, from the most refined perfection 

 of taste, to the extreme point of absm'dity. The success of the cultivator 

 will, however, be found nearly in proportion to the position his house 

 occupies between those extreme points, and the cause of failure evidently 

 arises from a want of previous arrangement in adapting the structure to 

 local circumstances, and the object to be attained. 



It frequently happens, that greenhouses are built without any pre^ious 

 consideration as to what plants are to be cultivated in them ; this is setting 

 out upon the worst principle possible, because, what might be an excellent 

 situation for an Orangery or CamelUa house, would be the very worst possible 

 for a Heathery or Geranium house ; the two former can accommodate them- 

 selves to a very limited degree of Ught and air, while the latter cannot 

 have either supplied in too great abundance. Again, a house intended 

 for large specimens of plants, would be the worst possible structui'e for 

 young or small plants ; as for the former purpose a lofty house would be 

 required, while for the latter it can scarcely be too low, small plants 

 requiring to be placed as near to the hght as posible. 



We may here observe, that one of the most common faults fallen into 

 by greenhouse builders, is that of making them too lofty to suit the 

 majority of plants to be cultivated in them. This fault is not only un- 

 favourable to the plants cultivated, but occasions an unnecessary expense in 

 the first erection, and entails a considerable annual cost ever afterwards ; 

 low, and rather narrow houses are better for general purposes, (par- 

 ticularly if on a small scale), than lofty and wide houses, as the 

 plants are then placed, not only in a better position as regards Hght and 

 air, but are seen to greater advantage by the observer. It is also better 

 to have several small houses, each set apart for particular families of 



