EMBELLISHMENTS. 
389 
are to be well-grown, must be glazed. Opake roofs 
prevent the admission of perpendicular light, without 
which the stems of vegetation are drawn up weak and 
feeble, and are attracted in an unsightly manner towards 
the glass in front. When the conservatory joins the house 
by one of its ends, and extends out from the building to a 
considerable length, the effect will be much more elegant ; 
and the plants will thrive more perfectly, when it is glazed 
on all of the three sides, so as to admit light in every 
direction. 
The best aspect for a conservatory is directly south ; 
southeast and southwest are scarcely inferior. Even east 
and west exposures will do very well, where there is plenty 
of glass to admit light; for though our winters are cold, 
yet there is a great abundance of sun, and bright clear 
atmosphere, both far more beneficial to plants than the 
moist, foggy vapor of an English winter, which, though 
mild, is comparatively sunless. When the conservatory 
adjoins and looks into the flower-garden, the effect will be 
appropriate and pleasing. 
Some few hints respecting the construction of a eon 
servatory may not be unacceptable to some of our readers 
In the first place, the roof should have a sufficient slope tc 
carry off the rain rapidly, to prevent leakage ; from 40 to 
45 degrees is found to be the best inclination in our 
climate. The roof should by no means be glazed with 
large panes, because small ones have much greater 
strength, which is requisite to withstand tne heavy 
weight of snow that often falls during winter, as well as 
to resist breakage by hail storms in summer. Four or 
eight inches by six, is the best size for roof-glass, and with 
this size the lap of the panes need not be greater than one- 
