in the Garden of the Horticultural Society. 379 



curvilinear plant-house before described, that is to say, it has 

 a sand-bed in the middle, stone shelves along the front and 

 ends, and niches in the back wall : these last are used for the 

 reception of fig-trees in pots. The sand-bed, however, is not 

 placed over a hollow chamber traversed by a flue, as in the 

 house in the Ornamental Garden, but is of stone raised upon 

 piers with a flue running below it, which consequently is 

 open to the whole house. The house is ventilated, not only 

 by means of apparatus in the front and back walls, but the 

 two ends of the house are so contrived that they will open 

 almost entirely when necessary, so that a current of air may 

 be introduced both from the ends and sides. In the first year 

 of its trial, the roof was permitted to be wholly exposed to 

 the action of the sun, but it was found impracticable to re- 

 gulate its temperature under such circumstances. The tem- 

 perature indeed was kept equal during the night by means 

 of fire-heat without difficulty, but in the day-time it was im- 

 possible to do so. When there were alternate changes from 

 a clouded to a bright sky, the action of the sun's rays was so 

 sudden, that the temperature of the house was raised too 

 high before the speediest supply of air could be given ; and 

 when there was a whole day of continued sunshine, with a 

 calm atmosphere, as often happened in the early part of 

 the season, the house could not, with all the ventilators 

 in operation, be kept within ten degrees of the tempera- 

 ture required for Cherries, or even Peaches. When, on such 

 days, Cherries were in full flower, the foot-stalks of their 

 flowers became withered, and never afterwards recovered. 

 Strawberries produced an abundance of fruit, and Figs as 

 much as could be expected in their first season. After this 



