® 
A FEW WORDS ON THE "CRYSTAL PALACE." 271 (j 
slightest objection, for whether the space he laid out geometrically, which its form would suggest, or 
naturally, it is quite certain that it may be so divided as to attain all that has been hinted at in the 
preceding remarks, and whether the various countries be represented by squares, circles, parallel- 
ograms, or any other forms which the taste of the designer may suggest, matters little. 
Under such a distribution some parts of the building would not require to be heated at all, but still 
the plants would not be injured by a slight heat, and they would soon accommodate themselves to the 
circumstances under which they would be placed. We should like, however, to see the Transept 
planted with those things for which it is alone adapted, viz., Palms, Bananas, and Tree Ferns, and we 
see no reason why Messrs. Loddiges' collection of these noble plants should not be transferred there at 
once, or at least as soon as the house is ready for its reception. We would then make that part into 
a tropical stove, but we would have glazed passages tlrrough it, by which those afraid of the heat 
might pass from one end to the other of the building without being exposed to the only peg (heat) 
which even the fertile imagination of the writer in the Quarterly can hang an objection upon. This 
part furnished with the graceful foliage of Musas and Palms, the elegant fronds of Tree Ferns, with some 
of the more remarkable forms of Orchids, and other tropical plants, would have a truly grand effect ; 
and to such an arrangement, we imagine, no material objection could be offered ; for those who are 
afraid of the temperature need not go into it, and those who are not afraid would have a luxurious 
treat. To a geographical arrangement of the building some objections may be urged, but Mr. Ward, 
in his little book upon his system of growing plants in close cases, urges the same arrangement for 
plants in small houses; and it is but justice to remark, that the idea of a " Sanitarium" was promul- 
gated by the same gentleman long before the Crystal Palace was thought of. How far the taking 
out of the glass during the summer months, as proposed by Mr. Paxton, will agree with the generally 
received notions of a " Sanitarium" it is not our purpose to enquire; this, however, is quite certain, 
it will allow the plants to be coated with dust, and hence will furnish plenty of work for the men em- 
ployed. This we regard as an impracticable part of the scheme. 
Much of the expense of keeping will depend upon the style in which the garden is first 
planted : if it is well done, the after-expense will be comparatively trifling; but if it is to be planted 
piece-meal, why then a large annual expenditure will be indispensable. Should the building be 
retained, we have no doubt there are hundreds of gentlemen in the country who would contribute 
their surplus plants ; and from Kew alone, plants sufficient to plant half the building might he had, 
with advantage to both establishments ; for at the present time, at Kew, they merely drag out a 
miserable existence, while in the Crystal Palace they would have ample room to devclope their natural 
peculiarities and beauties. By some, no doubt, it will be urged that the finer kinds of plants will not 
succeed so near London ; but we have seen plants splendidly grown within a stone's throw of the present 
building, and have no doubt that with good gardening, and great cleanliness, a vast collection of plants 
ma}' be grown with complete success. Of the sanitary and humanizing influence of such a retreat for 
the inhabitants of the great metropolis we need not say a word, and how much information both young 
and old may gather, by the study of the varied occupants of the palace, it is not necessary to specify. 
Since the above was in type (a pressure of matter having prevented its earlier publication) we 
have seen, in the Phytologist, Mr. Newman's proposal for a great City conservatory, or glazed Garden, 
on the site of Smithficid Market ; which is, certainly, a bolder scheme than that of wishing to retain the 
Crystal Palace as a winter garden. Much, however, as we should approve of any scheme that would get 
rid of Smithficid and its demoralizing influences, we must confess we cannot go the length of wishing to 
see beautiful plants pent up in such a locality ; for, while we grant that many things would grow there or 
anywhere else, in close cases, we do not see how they can succeed, at least we are sure they cannot 
succeed in a situation where, for the regulation of the temperature, if for nothing else, air must he 
admitted, and such air as would in a short time ruin any plant in the world; even Ferns and Crypto- 
gams would rebel against it. Mr. Ward, no doubt, may grow plants "in a closed case in the worst 
possible locality," but that is a very different tiling to growing them in a glazed garden, open to the 
public, and which must of necessity bo ventilated almost daily. We say nothing of the soot and 
smoke-begrimed appearance of a glass house in the very centre of the metropolis, for, though the scheme 
is well reasoned, we simply regard it as impracticable, and as such not likely to be carried out. We are 
quite willing to believe that many plants — stove plants more especially, may be grown with a less admis- 
sion of fresh air than is generally considered necessary, but still the temperature must be kept down, and 
i onsequently air must he admitted. If the temperature could be kept sufficiently low we could willingly 
dispense with so much ventilation; hut. without that, air must be given. We therefore consider Mr. Pax- 
ton's scheme the must practicable, and though we should like to see the Palace removed, we would rather 
see it where it now stands, than witness plants dragging out a miserable existence in Smithficid, 
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