CONSERVATORIES. 



367 



house, which is from the designs of Mr 

 Abraham, resident architect to that noble- 

 man, has been condemned by some wri- 

 ters as being heavy, dark, and unfitted for 

 the end in view. We, however, think 

 differently ; and although it is not alto- 

 gether what we think the beau ideal of a 

 first-rate architectural conservatory, still 



there is something so original in it alto- 

 gether, that we deem it a fit subject for 

 republishing. Though not to be entirely 

 copied, it may give ideas in the composi- 

 tion of one of a greater merit. 



The detached architectural conserva- 

 tory at Kew, of which fig. 506 is an end 

 elevation, and 507 a cross section, now 



occupied with specimens of New Holland 

 plants, is in a different style, and, although 

 much more massive than necessary, is in 

 itself a house of considerable merit, and 

 one in which plants may be cultivated to 

 very great perfection. This house is 87 

 feet in length, 44 feet broad and 26 feet 



high — proportions we think exceedingly 

 well fitted for the object in view. Ven- 

 tilation is effected by the windows along 

 one side letting down. The back wall b 

 is solid brickwork, with the exception of 

 three windows, all of which let down. By 

 this it will be seen that the ventilation is by 



Fig. 507. 



