249 



THE ORANGERY. 



The Orangery is a plant structure much more rare in Britain than in 

 almost any other country in Europe. This has not always heen the case ; 

 for the Orangery was amongst the first structures attempted in this 

 country for the cultivation of exotic plants ; and before the introduction 

 of so many other exotics into England, which may be principally traced 

 to our taking possession of the Cape of Good Hope, and the discovery of 

 New Holland, the cultivation of the orange was common here. Oiu* 

 neighbours on the continent have for ages admired these trees, on account 

 of the fragrance of their flowers, which they use in a variety of ways, 

 and also on account of their being evergreens, which are much more rare 

 in the gardens of the continent than they are with us. Indeed, so general 

 is their cultivation in France, Germany, and the Netherlands, that the 

 term Orangerie is synonymous with greenhouse in England, implying as 

 though the culture of them were a primary consideration to that of 

 exotic plants generally. 



Under this head we include, of course, the lemon, citron, lime, and 

 staddock ; and a house, either partially or completely filled with these 

 trees when in flower or fruit, must be allowed to have a very imposing 

 effect. 



STRUCTURES CALCULATED FOR THE GROWTH OF ORANGES. 



The Granger}-, according to our taste, should be either connected \\-ith 

 the mansion, or at no great distance from it. If attached, it may, with 

 greater propriety than can be admitted in other plant -house we have 

 noticed, partake of the architectural style of the house, and hence may, 

 in many cases, form a part of its elevation. The orange will tlirive with 

 a much less share of light and sun, particularly during winter, than almost 

 any other exotic we know, but it appears during summer to Uke both in 

 abundance. Houses, therefore, in which few other plants would live, may 

 be advantageously used for the cultivation of the orange. The houses on 

 the continent in which their most splenchd collections are kept, such as 

 those at Versailles, the Tuileries, at Lacken, Enghien, <:^c., are all without 



