86 THE GREEN-HOUSE. fjAN. 
require protection from frost only, not needing aid of artificial heat 
like stove plants, which are generally natives of the hottest regions, 
except in very severe weather; but the aid of a moderate fire, 
burned in a furnace contrived outside, either in the end or back 
wall, communicating the heat to the flues or funnels ranging along 
the inside, will be necessary not only in severe frosts, but also 
in moist foggy weather; a moderate fire now and then will 
dry up the damps, which would otherwise prove pernicious to 
several of the more tender kinds, especially to those of succulent 
habits. 
A green-house should generally stand in the pleasure ground,- 
and if possible, upon a somewhat elevated and dry spot fronting 
the south, and where the sun has full access from its rising to set- 
ting; the building ought to be of brick or stone, having the front 
almost wholly of glass work, ranging lengthwise east and west, 
and constructed upon an ornamental plan. 
As to its general dimensions, with respect to length, width and 
height, it may be from ten to fifty feet or more long, according to 
the number of plants which you intend it should contain, and its 
width in the clear, from ten or fifteen to twenty feet; though for a 
middle sized house fifteen or eighteen feet is sufficient; its height 
to the top of the upright front glasses equal to its width; as to erect- 
ing rooms over it, as is commonly directed, I disapprove of, such 
being not only an additional and unnecessary expense, but they 
give the building a heavy appearance; on the contrary all pieces 
of garden architecture ought to display a light, gay and sprightly 
taste. 
The walls of the back and ends should be carried up three bricks, 
or about two feet three inches thick, the more ettectually to keep 
out frost; a furnace ought to be erected outside, either in the back 
wall or one of the ends, as before observed, communicating with 
flues within, ranging in two or three returns along the back wall, 
with only a brick on edge, with the plastering between them and 
the inside; also one flue running along the front and end walls, 
raised wholly above the floor; and as to the front of the building it 
should have as much glass as possible, and a wide glass door should 
be in the middle, both for ornament and entrance, and for moving 
in and out the plants; a small door at the end for entrance in severe 
weather will be found of considerable utility. 
The width of the windows for the glass sashes may be five or 
six feet, and the piers between them may be either of timber, six, 
eight or ten inches wide, according to their height, or if of brick 
or stone, they must be about two feet wide, sloping both sides of 
each pier inward, that by taking oft" the angles a more free admis- 
sion may be given to the rays of the sun; the bottom sashes must 
reach within a foot or eighteen inches of the floor of the house, and 
their top reach within eight or ten inches of the ceiling; and if 
brick or stone piers two feet wide, folding shutters may be hung 
inside to fall back against each pier. 
In the modern construction of green-houses, in order to have as 
much glass as possible in front, the piers between the sashes are 
