374 First Report on the Experiments carried on 



the late Garden of the Society at Kensington, whence they 

 were removed when that Establishment was transferred to 

 Chiswick. In their external structure there is nothing par- 

 ticularly novel to be noticed, but some observations on their 

 interior may be useful. 



Bark Stove. The small house which is used for the pur- 

 pose of a Nursery Bark-stove, has its interior fitted up with 

 a small tank for the growth of aquatic plants, a central brick 

 pit for tan, an elevated border along the back wall for para- 

 sitical orchideous plants, and various shelves and stages of 

 wood along the front and sides for smaller plants in pots. 

 The roof does not rest immediately upon the back wall, but 

 has a return to the north of about three feet, adapted to the 

 purpose of ventilation without loss of light, the sashes being 

 moveable on hinges. The plants in this house thrive ex- 

 ceedingly both in summer and winter, and in all respects it 

 has been found perfectly suited to the growth of small plants 

 of the more delicate kind from within the Tropics. The 

 glass sashes to the north, alluded to, are found to be of great 

 use in bringing the light nearer to the low plants cultivated 

 in the border in the back part of the house. 



Green-house. This, when fitted up, was designed for the re- 

 ception of small plants in pots, before their being transferred to 

 houses of larger dimensions. With this in view, and in order to 

 bring the whole of the plants as near the light as possible, the 

 back shelf, which is broad, was elevated nearly three feet and 

 a half above the level of the front platform, and the inter- 

 mediate space was fitted with two hollow stone stages, one 

 rising two feet above the other, access being had to the back 

 part of the house by means of stone steps at each end of the 



