§ VIII. THE GREEN-HOUSE. 



The green-house was begun in 1795, after the 

 design of M.Molinos, and finished in 1800. It is 

 200 feet long, 24 wide, and 27 high to the centre 

 of the arch, and has seventeen windows, 9 feet 

 and a half wide and nearly 12 in height, besides 

 the circular part which does not open, placed 

 on a wall of free stone 19 inches from the 

 ground, and separated by stone pillars : the great 

 door on the west is 10 feet wide and 24 in 

 height. Two stoves furnished with pipes are 

 lighted when the thermometer without is 4° of 

 Reaumur, or 9 of Fahrenheit below the point 

 of congelation ; but as the building faces the 

 south, the least ray of sunshine produces the 

 necessary warmth by day, while mats and inside 

 shutters fence out the cold by night. The win- 

 dow sashes, which would be in danger of droop- 

 ing from their excessive weight, if supported by 

 ordinary hinges, turn on pivots, placed at one 

 quarter of their breadth, with such ease that they 

 are opened by the pressure of afinger. 



