231 
GARDEN ARCHITECTURE. 
Haying spoken of the general style and site of plant erections, and fully 
explained our views of the principles which should guide the floriculturist and 
landscape gardener in each of the points, we must now descend more into the actual 
composition of the building, and discuss its individual features. 
The outline of plant structures has necessarily varied much with the changes in 
popular taste, and the peculiar opinions of the persons forming them. In one par- 
ticular, however, we believe we have reasons for assuming that the leading professors 
and patrons of the art at present universally concur ; and this is that the one-sided 
style of buildings so general in an earlier stage of floricultural progress, should be 
at once abandoned in all future operations of the kind ; and that whether the plan 
be a circle, an oval, a parallelogram, or any other figure, both sides should be made 
of corresponding materials, and of a precisely similar contour. 
Of course we here refer only to detached houses or groups of houses ; as we have 
before said that those which adjoin the mansion ought to assimilate in some degree 
to its distinguishing character, and positively constitute a part of it. 
Several reasons may be given why plant-houses should be the same on both 
sides, and we shall just touch upon the chief of these. It may be confidently asserted 
that taste demands it, while it is more convenient and necessary in various ways to 
the health of the plants. With respect to appearance, no one can dispute that a 
building of equal parts and proportions is infinitely superior to one of which the 
back is either a tall, upright, blank wall, or a series of sheds. The one possesses 
symmetry, while the other is totally destitute of all proportion ; the one appears 
perfect and finished, the other seems wanting in some essential part ; in short, the 
first, if properly designed, is calculated to gratify the eye of taste ; but the last 
cannot, under any modification, so long as it retains its distinctive form, do other- 
wise than annoy it. 
Of the greater convenience of a symmetrical house, little need be stated, as it 
must be manifest that for the disposition of the walks, and the arrangement of the 
plants, so as to be easily tended and to exhibit themselves most favourably, as well 
as for heating and ventilation, it has many advantages. For example, a house of 
the ordinary oblong figure, with what is termed a span roof, may have a broad shelf 
or stage all round the inside of the walls, and a larger stage or bed in the centre, 
with a walk between the two. On these stages the plants can all be placed so as 
to be near the light, to present a pleasing aspect on all sides, and to be readily 
watered, pruned, or removed from the walk. Again, in respect to the heating 
apparatus, if placed at one end or side of the house, and the pipes made to pass 
round it under the outer stage, or the flues carried along beneath the walk, every 
part of it will be at hand at any time, for the purpose of alteration or repair, and 
