372 



PLANT-HOUSES. 



the same art; but everything at Alton although we disapprove of it in some 



Towers is done in a way peculiar to itself, respects, and in none more than in the en- 



The architectural conservatory at Dal- ormous cost, which would have built an 



keith has been much criticised, and excellent house ten times the size, still we 



Fig. 509, 



find it a good house for large specimens 

 of plants to grow in. 



There are two aspects, we think, in 

 which conservatory-building should be 

 regarded — namely, external effect and in- 

 ternal convenience and fitness for the end 

 in view. If external effect is desired, it 

 can scarcely be looked for in a mere sheet 

 of glass, whatever the form or however 

 transparent it may be ; but if the cultiva- 

 tion of plants be the object, then let us 

 have light, and as little architectural dis- 

 play as possible. 



For the following designs, Plate XVII., 

 we are indebted to Messrs Mackenzie and 

 Matthews, eminent architects at Elgin, 

 who have recently executed this building 

 for a gentleman in the north of Scotland. 

 As a plant-structure in connection with 

 the mansion, it is very complete, both in 

 regard to convenience and effect. It is 

 evident, however, from its size, that it is 

 intended to be kept supplied from another 

 greenhouse, where the plants are to be 

 brought into a flowering state. The de- 

 tails are so complete that further descrip- 

 tion is unnecessary. 



This may be called a town conser- 

 vatory, the upper part of which might 

 appropriately enough be placed over 

 some of the offices, and entered from the 

 drawing-room or breakfast-room. As 

 an agreeable adjunct to a villa residence, 

 it will recommend itself ; and even, upon 

 a larger scale, it might be happily enough 

 connected with a house of considerable 

 magnitude. Indeed, it were well if ladies 

 would adopt such plant-structures in 



connection with their rooms, instead of 

 continuing the unhealthy and plant- 

 destroying system of having them placed 

 in their sitting-rooms. The communi- 

 cation with such a conservatory, to be 

 complete, should have a double door — 

 that is, one of glass and another of wood, 

 the former to be all in one piece, of plate 

 glass, and, like the other, made to run 

 back into a recess in the wall. When 

 privacy is wished, the wooden door may 

 be usedj and when the plants are wished 

 to be seen, the glass door is to be substi- 

 tuted; or both may be slid into the 

 recess, and the conservatory thrown open 

 to the room. Besides the enjoyment 

 arising from the mere sight of the plants, 

 or their odoriferous aroma, such an ar- 

 rangement would incite even a valetudi- 

 narian to quit his couch and take a stroll 

 amongst them. Such structures should 

 be glazed with a slightly obscured glass, 

 so that the sun's rays during summer 

 may be partially modified, by which 

 means the plants would remain longer 

 in flower, and greater privacy would be 

 enjoyed by the owner. In certain cases 

 it will be desirable to have a private mode 

 of entrance for the person who attends to 

 the watering, &c, to avoid his having to 

 pass through the rooms. This may be 

 effected in a variety of ways. For ex- 

 ample, if a flower-stage occupies the centre 

 of the house, a trap-door may be placed 

 under it; or a spiral metallic stair may be 

 placed on the outside where least seen, 

 and where the most ready means of enter- 

 ing by a small window in the side of the 



