IRON AND WOOD ROOFS FOR STOVES, &c. 
87 
would it render the expense of the light much more than if made of wood 7 
for as copper of that dimension would not weigh more than six ounces to the 
running foot, I should suppose it could be bought at about one shilling and 
eightpence per pound, therefore the expense would be trifling when compared with 
the advantages ; and indeed the extra expense would be repaid in a few years by 
the saving of wood in repairing the glass, as glaziers cannot pick out old putty 
without destroying the sash bars ; and this being frequently repeated (as is 
necessary when lights are kept constantly in use) very soon lessens the substance 
of the sash bars. I therefore recommend all persons, about to erect forcing and 
other houses, to have them constructed of the above materials, particularly if they 
are desirous to excel in the culture of fruits and plants, as by the use of copper sash 
bars they obtain all the desired objects : — viz., lightness of appearance, economy of 
fuel, glass, and labour. Moreover, any gentleman, before erecting or deciding on 
any particular plan or dimensions of houses for horticultural purposes, should 
consult his own gardener or some other practical man acquainted with the subject, 
as it is impossible for any architect or surveyor to know the proper dimensions 
and elevation of a hothouse, greenhouse, or other buildings, was to answer all the 
intended purposes to which they are appropriated, so well as the gardener. It is 
true that an architect may make a very interesting external drawing, which to the 
eye appears perfection, without its even answering any one of the desired ends. 
Convenience of paths or walks, bark or tan beds, stages, flues, cisterns for water,, 
ventilation, and innumerable other little requisites and necessaries for a stove, 
greenhouse, or conservatory, may be overlooked ; and as every gentleman who goes 
to the expense of erections of this description expects in due time to have the 
benefit of his outlay in fruit, or the satisfaction of an extraordinary fine individual 
specimen or general display of flowers, should he be eventually disappointed in 
not enjoying those anticipated gratifications through the bad construction of his 
house or houses, I regret to say it too frequently occurs that the industrious, perse- 
vering, and, anxious gardener is blamed for neglect of duty or want of skill, not 
only by his employers but by others equally unacquainted with the cause. But 
upon examination of the house by a competent and practical man, it turns out that 
the blame and ill-success are attributable to the formation and aspect of the house. 
Various genera and species of plants require peculiar treatment and different situa- 
tions, so that had the gardener been consulted as to the height of stages, depth of 
tan-beds, and proper situation of the flues (or other modes of heating), all this 
disappointment to the employer and employed, through ill-success, would have 
been prevented. Moreover, it too frequently happens with these pretty plans 
prepared by non-practical men, that there is an insufficiency of means provided for 
the proper ventilation of houses, and want of ventilation in iron curvilinear roofs is 
frequently attended with the most disastrous consequences, which is a confirmation 
of the correctness of my observations, and of the importance of proper ventila- 
tion, and of plants always being liable to be scorched under an iron-roofed house. 
