STRUCTURES AND ARRANGEMENTS. 



249 



A. material difference, however, should be made in providing means for ventilation. 

 The contents of stoves are injured rather than benefited by the admittance of much air, 

 especially at the ends or sides. Movable side-lights, if provided, arc rarely opened by 

 successful growers of stove plants, and are not really necessary. A few " hit and miss " 

 slides may be let into the walls at intervals of 3 feet or so apart, and when these are 

 opened a moderate amount of cold air passing over the hot-water pipes before it comes 

 into contact with the plants does not injure them. It is at the top, or ridge, where 

 ample provision for ventilation should be made. Ordinary lap ventilators in the front 

 of lean-to, and on both sides of span-roofed houses, are the best. These may be either 

 continuous or as far apart as they are wide, and all ought to be opened and closed with 

 an easily constructed crank and lever apparatus. All the hinges used should be either 

 of brass, or revolve on brass pins, the first from choice as being the least likely to rust. 



Interior Arrangements. 

 In the case of span-roofed houses provision can be made for the growth of tall plants 

 on central beds, or staging 5 to 6 feet wide, and side stages 2 to 3 feet wide, fixed 

 on a level with the wall plate, for the 

 smaller plants, this leaving ample room 

 for pathways. The figures for a house 

 18 feet wide would be central bed 6 

 feet wide, side stages 2| feet, and walks 

 3| feet wide. A three-quarter span- 

 roofed house might have a front side- 

 stage or bed stand, also a flat stage, as 

 shown in Fig. 115, between the back wall 

 and pathway. This represents an ex- 

 tremely useful structure, without front 



Fig. 115. Plant Stove, three-quarter span. 



sashes, for preparing plants for larger 



houses or room decoration. Ventilators are fixed in the front wall, next the hot- water 

 pipes. Lean-to houses are also arranged with a front stage, and a pit or stepped 

 staging connected with the back wall. 



Constant exposure of wood to heat and moisture leads to its early decay. Ilenco 

 the necessity for employing as little of it as possible for supports and fittings in plant 

 stoves. Iron standards and framework, supporting slabs of slate, are the best for the 



VOL. II. K K 



