234 



THE CONSERVATORY. 



annexed diagram, which represents the section of the above splendid 



house, will at once show how 

 easy it would be, where expense 

 is a secondary consideration, to 

 cover any extent of ground, and 

 to have an exotic garden in whicli 

 perpetual spring could be main- 

 tained. The roof, which in this 

 example is double, and which 

 might be continued to any ex- 

 tent, is supported by cast-iron 

 hollow columns, a g, which also 

 carry off the water which falls on 

 the roof, into drains properly 

 placed for its reception, as at ^, 

 and which, after supplying an im- 

 mense reservoir under the ground 

 for the supply of the house, as 

 well as for use in the event of 

 fire, or any ^ther scarcity of water, 

 empties the remainder beyond the 

 limits of the buildings. These 

 columns are highly ornamented with mouldings, and have wires fastened 



