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PLANT-HOUSES. 



cast-iron plant-table, supported on orna- 

 mental iron brackets, surrounds the 

 whole house, and which is capable of 

 accommodating a large number of plants 

 in pots, whose constitutions unfit them 

 for being planted out in the beds, and 

 which require to be placed near to the 

 glass. The hot-water pipes, of which 

 there are two flows and two returns all 

 round, are placed under this table, the 

 heat from which is diffused upwards 

 through the many openings in it. The 

 surface of the beds of soil is 2 inches 

 below the level of the floor, to prevent 

 the soil from being at any time washed 

 over. They are also margined with very 

 neat cast-iron edgings, which gives a 

 finished appearance to the whole. The 

 beds of soil are thoroughly drained be- 

 low, and drain tiles are laid amongst the 

 drainage, supplied with air from the vault 

 below ; — for it should be understood that, 

 as this very elegant structure is intended 

 to stand upon the open lawn, the whole 

 paraphernalia of furnaces, cisterns, pot- 

 ting-room, &c, is placed under the floor 

 of the centre part, which is lighted by 

 narrow area windows close to the plinth 

 on which the house stands, and by bull's- 

 eyes let into the pavement of the floors, 

 and kept flush with them. The entrance 

 to this vault is by a well stair, covered with 

 a neat iron grating, opening to the sur- 

 face of the lawn, in the angle formed where 

 the centre part joins one of the wings, as 

 shown on the ground -plan. The smoke 

 is carried off through a tunnel, which 

 terminates in an ornamental chimney- 

 shaft at a considerable distance, and 

 rising from amongst shrubs. The present 

 design has been prepared for a nobleman 

 who wishes the whole structure to be in 

 one temperate conservatory. But to those 

 who may wish for a greater variety of 

 temperature, &c, it will be readily seen 

 that the wings can be separated from the 

 centre part by throwing a glass partition 

 across at the points of junction, — thus 

 giving the proprietor an opportunity of 

 cultivating tropical or extra-tropical 

 plants, according to his taste. By refer- 

 ring to what has been said, (section Green- 

 houses,) in connection with the low-roofed 

 greenhouse, of a cruciform shape, in the 

 Royal Gardens at Kew, as to its capability 

 of affording complete accommodation for 

 a general collection suited to a private 



establishment, it will be seen that, in the 

 present case, the same may be accom- 

 plished, but upon a much larger and 

 more important scale. 



It sometimes happens, as in the case of 

 the splendid gardens of Lady Rolle, at 

 Bicton, that the conservatory, for private 

 reasons, is placed in connection with the 

 forcing or fruit houses. Of this arrange- 

 ment we have another instance in Plate 

 XX., the drawings of which have been 

 kindly placed at our disposal by Richard 

 Turner, Esq., of Dublin. It represents a 

 beautiful curvilinear range, having a con- 

 servatory, with straight sides and circular 

 front, forming the centre, which he has 

 erected at Kilikee, the seat of Colonel 

 White, in Ireland. This range is placed 

 upon an open lawn, and has a fine effect. 

 The wings, which are dedicated to the 

 growth of peaches, grapes, &c, are on the 

 lean-to curvilinear principle, only so far 

 improved from the generality of houses 

 of the same description as to have their 

 ends carried round so as completely to 

 shut out the offices behind from being 

 seen from the entrances, which are placed 

 at each end. Indeed, on this excellent 

 arrangement the principal merits of this 

 range, in our estimation, rests. We have 

 given this plate to illustrate this, as well 

 as to show how a proprietor of more 

 limited means, or having a less taste for 

 plants, may combine his conservatory and 

 fruit-houses together, so as to produce 

 effect by bringing all his glass into one 

 point of view. This structure is of metal- 

 lic material — the rafters, gutters, wall- 

 plates, &c., being of cast-iron, while the 

 astragals and lighter parts are of malle- 

 able iron. Ventilation, as shown by the 

 two ventilators being partly open, is in 

 the usual manner placed in the front 

 parapet ; they are opened or shut simul- 

 taneously by a very simple mechanical 

 operation, which throws them out at 

 bottom, while they are hinged to the upper 

 wall-plate above. Top ventilation is ef- 

 fected by means of openings near the top of 

 the back wall, the fresh air being admitted, 

 or the foul air allowed to escape through 

 the ornamental iron grating which rises 

 above the glass, and forms a part of the 

 ornamental finish on the top of the wall. 

 The chimney-tops are placed on the ends, 

 more for ornament than for use. The 

 smoke from the furnaces, as well as that 



