January 11, 1883. ] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 21 
llth 
Tn 
Roval Society at 4.30 P.M. 
12th 
F 
Quekett Club at 8 P.M. 
[Covent Garden. 
13th 
S 
Sale of Hardy Plants and Bulbs 
at Mr. Stevens’s Rooms, 
14th 
SUN 
2ND SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY. 
15 th 
M 
16 th 
TU 
17th 
W 
Society of Arts at 8 P.M. 
GARDEN STRUCTURES. 
part which glass houses play in the 
success or non-success of gardeners has 
oinot, I think, ever been fairly taken into 
account in estimating results. Even the 
Grape Yine resents in many cases the 
accommodation afforded it, while there 
are very few gardens which have not one or 
more examples of plant structures totally 
unfitted for the purpose. Not only is this the case, 
hut such examples are to be found in instances 
where the glass has been lately erected, some¬ 
times by horticultural builders. Only lately a gentle¬ 
man applied for the plan of a structure in which plants 
would grow, and yet he had within the last two years 
erected a series of houses for plant culture. I had an 
opportunity of inspecting the range, which looked most 
promising from the further end of the garden, but the 
houses were not fitted for the work. I know it is said 
that gardeners are not to blame when such cases occur, 
but I know more than one gardener who has had the 
planning of houses. I have a very unsatisfactory house, 
but it is, however, the only structure out of several 
since erected that I would condemn; the pitch of the 
roof being too steep, and practically unsuited for 
cultural purposes at any time except during spring and 
antn mn . There is perhaps no plant, at least no popular 
plants, which so thoroughly show like or dislike to 
their quarters as many Orchids, and not only uncom¬ 
mon Orchids, but even the best known kinds. I know 
a good Orchid grower who fails with Dendrobium nobile 
and Cypripedium insigne, because there is not a struc¬ 
ture in his garden in which they will grow. A visitor 
lately expressed his surprise at the growths Odonto- 
glossum Roezlii was making here, as he could hardly 
induce it to keep alive. In this instance the plant in 
question grows like a weed with no more care than is 
bestowed on our commonest plants. The following is 
a very striking instance of the effect that a proper 
house has on the health of a plant. When I came 
here I found the Eucharises in a very poor condition, 
and ascertained that there had never been anything 
made of it. A fresh stock of healthy plants was 
obtained, and these went exactly like the others, and 
for several years experiments were tried, and always 
without success, until a new structure was erected for 
growing that and similar plants, and within six 
months the stock was in perfect health. We have a 
large and uninterrupted supply of Pelargoniums and 
Lily of the Yalley the whole winter through; but a few 
years ago we could not have so managed with the kind 
of glass houses then at our command. Now with 
proper structure we find no difficulty. 
As to the kind of structure for particular purposes, I 
would greatly prefer large structures for the culture of 
fruit. A Peach house or a vinery as a lean-to should 
not be less than 18 feet wide. The cost of erection is 
considerably increased in the case of large houses as 
against small ones, but after they are up and paid for 
the large houses have all the advantages on their side. 
To the gardener who is pressed not only to produce 
fruit but also to produce flowers without the necessary 
accommodation, these large houses are especially valu¬ 
able ; so valuable are they that I know an instance 
where a crop of Chrysanthemums from two Peach 
houses nearly doubled the amount brought for the 
legitimate crop in the previous summer and autumn. 
When fruit houses are erected the requirements of the 
future with regard to flowers should most decidedly be 
taken into consideration. The furore for fine-foliage 
plants appears to be decreasing, and flowering plants 
becoming more prominent. By this change in fashion 
more work will be entailed on gardeners, and so much 
the easier will it be for those who can employ their glass 
structures for the production alike of fruit and 
flowers. 
We do not need plant houses very large. Gardens 
generally are not so much kept up for show as for 
utility. Large specimen plants are in most cases 
found to be costly, taking up room without any ade¬ 
quate return being given ; the most useful plant struc¬ 
tures therefore will be found to be low flat buildings 
about 12 or 18 feet in width, with a central path and 
two side beds or benches. At the same time where cut 
flowers are in great demand Camellias, Lapagerias, and 
Gardenias will require structures of larger dimensions 
in order to allow for planting out. 
Would-be investors in glass houses must be much 
perplexed by the several inventors and patentees in the 
field. Having to do most of such work with local 
and estate labour, I have had my share of thought in 
connection with this matter. Putty or no putty, 
Belgian versus English glass, deal against log, iron 
instead of wood, have all been under serious review. 
Several hundreds of miles have been travelled to see 
the best systems. However, up to the present we have 
not dispensed with putty, though it is employed only 
as a bed for the glass, as effective and more lasting 
than using it as a holder-down as well. Good Belgian 
glass we found to be as expensive as the same quality 
of English, and have employed the latter in preference. 
In the matter of wood that has been bought in the 
log, cut up and dried before using, we can insure 
getting wood of an older growth from the log. Between 
wood and iron a compromise has lately been made. 
The last erection here had all the main bearers of tee 
and angle-iron batted into the walls, and on these the 
wood framework was laid and fastened down here and 
there with screw nails. Such a structure is as nearly 
indestructible as can be expected. When the woodwork 
gives way (there are no heavy rafters required) the 
screw nails are easily taken out, the roof removed, the 
glass taken out of its bed, a new wooden framework 
laid on and screwed down, and the glass returned to its 
former position. Such an arrangement is also cheap, 
while thoroughly strong. We have not tried the 
iron rafters on large structures as yet, but hope to 
No. 133.—YOL! VI., Third Series. 
No. 1789.—Vol. LXIX., Old Series. 
