EXTERNAL DECORATIONS. I9 



a pleasing variety of evergreens, and should be decorated in con- 

 formity with the surrounding scenery. 



Amongst the variety of useful and decorative buildings that may 

 with propriety be attached to a villa, is one constructed to answer 

 the purposes of a green-house in winter, and a pleasant retreat in 

 summer. The building is formed like a conservatory, and paved in 

 fanciful figures of selected pebbles or coloured stones, on which the 

 plants may stand; or they may be placed on stages as in a green- 

 house. The front of this building is so constructed, that the 

 lights and frames may be removed in summer, and an open tem- 

 porary ornamental front introduced, with Venetian blinds and cur- 

 tains; and green-house plants at this season being placed out in 

 the air, the interior may be ornamented with a succession of 

 blooming plants, — those ever pleasing objects of all-inspiring nature. 

 In the winter season, the building may reassume its character 

 of a green-house with little trouble or expense. The damps of 

 a green-house may be prevented from affecting the dwelling, if 

 they communicate, by a partition of glass, or a glazed porch, through 

 which the flues should pass ; which will effectually obviate every 

 unpleasantness that may arise from the conservatory being attached 

 to the house. 



A tasteful disposal of such offices as are indispensable to a residence 

 in the country is of great importance, and yet convenience must not 

 be sacrificed to ornament ; therefore, when they can be made to 



D 2 



