GREEN-HOUSE AND CONSERVATORY. 



997 



nearer the plants are placed to the glass the better, and placing 

 them upon stone shelves instead of wood we consider to be 

 an improvement, for the purpose of rendering the temperature 

 at the roots more cool, or at least more uniform. 



The Orange-House may be considered " the green-house 

 of the last century," that is, a house with upright front sashes 

 of glass, the roof being wholly or partially opaque. In such 

 houses, oranges are found to thrive under good management ; 

 and, however defective, are far superior to the orangeries on 

 the continent, where the finest specimens of this tree are to 

 found. Although oranges prosper well in houses very much 

 shaded, or in such as have much less light than those destined 

 for other exotics, still they will thrive better in those that are 

 more transparent, or in such as are capable of being partially 

 shaded at certain seasons; we would therefore propose, for 

 houses glazed on all sides excepting the north, should they 

 front the south, that they be furnished with creepers of the 

 most rapid growth, planted so as to be trained up the rafters, 

 and, in the general management, we would recommend, that, 

 during the hot months of summer, the whole roof be covered 

 with them, to afford a degree of shade of which the orange, in 

 common with some other plants, are found to thrive under. 

 During the spring and autumn months, the sun-heat would 

 only be but moderated ; as in the former case, the creepers 

 would not have made much progress, and in the latter they 

 could be cut away as the sun falls lower in the horizon. 

 During winter they can sustain no injury from sun-heat in 

 these northern latitudes, and during that period, the creepers 

 could be cut in, and trained so as not to cast more shade than 

 the rafters would do without them. In offering this mode of 

 culture, we are perfectly aware that many will disapprove of 

 it ; however, we have the test of experience to sanction us, 

 and if all the other parts of their management be only ap- 

 proaching mediocrity, there is little doubt but that fine healthy 

 orange-trees may be produced ; a circumstance much desired 

 but seldom met with in this country. It is a singular circum- 

 stance, that the London nurserymen, who excel all other cul- 

 tivators in the management of plants, should either pay so 

 Httle attention to the culture of this family, or be so deficient 



