364 



PLANT-HOUSES. 



the largest size hitherto erected. It was 

 designed and executed by the Messrs 

 Bailey, of Holborn, the well-known hot- 

 house builders ; it was entirely formed of 

 curvilinear sash bars of wrought iron, 

 without rafters or principal ribs. These 

 sash bars were nearly two inches deep, and 

 half an inch thick in the thickest part, 

 and weighed only about one pound per 

 lineal foot. The house consisted of two 

 domes — (vide fig. 501) — the upper and 



lower, the former being supported by a 

 series of cast-iron tubular columns, a a, 

 covered with climbing plants. This im- 

 mense structure was 100 feet in dia- 

 meter, and 60 feet high. It was heated 

 by steam, brought from a boiler at some 

 distance, so as not to be seen from the 

 house ; the pipes, e e, being laid under the 

 floor, as in similar cases. The ventilation 

 was effected by a series of ventilators in 

 the plinth b, by opening sashes between 

 the two domes c c, and by an opening in 

 the crown d, all of which were opened 

 and shut by very simple and effective 

 means. The entrance was by a porch 

 attached to it, a mode always necessary 

 in such forms of houses. 



The original model of this house was 

 lately pointed out to us in the royal 

 gardens at Frogmore, having been pre- 

 sented to the Princess Royal by the 

 Messrs Bailey, with a view to its being 

 converted into a Wardian case. For 

 objections to dome-shaped houses, vide 

 Hothouse-Building, &c. 



The circular architectural conservatory 

 at Dalkeith Park, of which Plate XV. is 

 an elevation, is a detached building placed 

 in a small flower-garden, intended to have 

 been very much enlarged. Other arrange- 

 ments, however, having since been made, 



this intention is not likely, at least for the 

 present, to be carried into effect. This is 

 a highly enriched architectural building, 

 and reflects great credit on the taste of 

 the Duchess of Buccleuch, at whose sug- 

 gestions it was erected ; and also on 

 William Burn, Esq., the eminent archi- 

 tect, under whose directions it was built. 

 It is the most elaborate, and, probably, 

 the best specimen of a truly architectural 

 conservatory in the kingdom. The situa- 

 tion has been unhappily chosen, being too 

 low, lying in a valley by the river side, 

 instead of being upon rising ground. 

 Such a house should have stood on high 

 ground, surrounded by an architectural 

 flower-garden, approached by three or 

 more distinct flights of steps, and encom- 

 passed by highly ornamental mural para- 

 pets and pavement terraces, with richly 

 laid out parterres, in a style corresponding 

 with the architecture of the building. One 

 flight of steps, and one terrace, about 3 

 feet in height, surrounds the house; but, 

 from the low level of the ground, a suffi- 

 ciently grand effect has not been produced. 

 The present terrace and richly carved 

 balustrade are in excellent keeping ; be- 

 yond this, however, should have been an 

 architectural garden, and, descending from 

 that level, another in the same style, of 

 greater diameter, also enclosed by a para- 

 pet, the descent from it leading to the 

 natural ground-level. Within this latter 

 garden should be placed fountains, statues, 

 and vases, the two latter arranged by the 

 sides of the four principal walks, which 

 should have approached the house from 

 the four cardinal points. Had the situa- 

 tion otherwise been good, all this could 

 have been effected artificially, namely, by 

 elevating the floor of the house 20 feet or 

 more above its present level, and forming 

 the first terrace round it on arches, and 

 the receding ones solid, falling to the 

 natural level of the grounds. 



The whole of the building is of beautiful 

 white sandstone, the best in Scotland, but, 

 unfortunately, as is the case with all soft 

 stones of this kind, very subject to become 

 discoloured from the growth of lichens 

 and other minute mosses, which require 

 much labour in removal. 



The lower parapet, of which fig. 502 a 

 is a portion of one of the divisions or 

 panels, is richly carved. 



The circular pilasters, b, rise from a 



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