THE CONSERVATORY. 
59 
exceedingly deep, (not less than five or six feet,) and in it were deposited a very- 
great quantity of stable-dung, and refuse vegetable matter, and over that a foot or 
more of the best turfy loam. In it were planted climbing plants of approved 
quality, according to the taste of the noble owners ; among other things two or three 
magnificent pelargoniums of ordinary character in themselves (P. Zonale, P. globosum, 
&c), but beautiful and striking on account of the great height and breadth of trellis 
which they occupy. Great taste is displayed, and every circumstance tends to 
render this erection a perfect domestic gem. 
Having thus endeavoured to show that much latitude of design and execution 
can be exercised, the whole effect graceful, or the contrary, depending upon the 
judgment of the owner or gardener, we now recur to the grand structure which 
constitutes the basis of the object we have in view. 
The preparation of a permanent bed of soil in each of the two departments — the 
breadth to correspond with that of the span roof above it — is the main consideration, 
and it is thus described in the communication before us : — " The bottom of the beds 
are made concave, in order to convey any water that would percolate the soil, into a 
drain or well, of which there are three, filled with large rough flints. The subsoil 
being there a natural stratum of chalk, rendered any other drain unnecessary ; but 
in many localities clay of a tenacious quality might occur, and in that case it would be 
wise to introduce a regular stone and tile drain, according to the plan of the most 
improved modern practice. These drains ought to run five or six feet below the 
surface level, and be conducted to some outlet by a regular fall, so as to avoid the 
possible contingency of stagnant water. Above the central drain the hollow or 
concave bottom is laid with large rough flints, and the whole space is then covered 
with nearly eighteen inches of broken bricks, over which — still keeping the concave 
form — there rests a thin layer of coarse shingly gravel. The space left for the soil 
varies in depth ; that for the back bed being 4 feet 6 inches in the centre, diminishing 
at the sides to 3 feet 6 inches ; the bed being devoted to shrubs of larger growth, while 
the bed in front, being destined to plants of humbler size, is 3 feet 6 inches in the centre, 
diminishing to 3 feet at the two sides. These spaces are filled up, first with a layer of 
thick turf laid loosely and hollow by doubling them up, keeping the grass side inmost ; 
over these is some clean water gravel, or ballast as it is sometimes called, just enough 
to fill the hollows left among the turf; the layer is about one foot in thickness. The 
turf should be cut some time before, and be exposed to sun and air. The next 
layer, of about the same depth, is of turfy surface loam, with the turf chopped up, 
and mixed with the most rooty and heathy part of a quantity of bog or heath soil, 
among winch some sandy water gravel was thrown." So much for what may be 
considered the subsoil of the beds. 
The real soil — previously prepared — consists of light dark-coloured loam ; yellow 
mellow loam, of a stronger quality ; sandy bog, all cut with the turf laid in ridges, 
and frequently turned until perfectly sweet and mellow ; and the same quantity of 
bog-soil, only cut more recently, so that the turf be not rotted down like the others. 
i 2 
