160 
THE GREENHOUSE. 
most generally useful, of all the varied structures which legiti¬ 
mately belong to a garden. Indeed it may be questioned if the 
latter can be considered complete, or kept in the order indispen¬ 
sable in these days of perfect finish, without the advantage of 
some such convenience; and we venture to predict the time is 
not far distant when every place exceeding a single rod of ground 
will have at least its glazed pit for the preservation of bedding 
plants through the winter, and the growth of cucumbers or 
melons, or the purposes of propagation in summer. We intend* 
therefore, to enter as minutely as possible into every circum¬ 
stance connected with it, that it is possible to explain orally. The 
site, form, manner of erection, heating, expense* besides the 
management proper at the different seasons of our variable clime, 
are all subjects of consequence in connexion with the greenhouse, 
and, therefore, require particular notice. Perhaps no garden 
structure admits of so much modification, or can he applied to 
so many useful purposes as the greenhouse. In the hands of a 
skilful cultivator it at one season contains an assembly of all the 
beauty which the regions of Flora can supply, besides being the 
storehouse from whence may emanate the pride and loveliness of 
the parterre at a more genial season; when stripped of one set of 
occupants, it is again rendered the point of attraction by the in¬ 
troduction of those delicate “ natives of a sunny sky,” which 
refuse to unfold their graceful charms at a ruder season. Or 
should the taste of the proprietor incline to a more permanent 
class, by judicious selection it is still, at all times, equally in¬ 
teresting ; and with no other additional convenience than this 
house and, perhaps, a small pit, even celebrity may be ob¬ 
tained. The situation of a greenhouse is too often dependent 
on contingencies beyond control to admit of choice; and, did 
even the opposite rule prevail, we do not believe it to be of 
the consequence which is often unduly attached to it ? With 
an efficient heating apparatus and a proper selection of plants, 
success may be attained wherever the sun can be had to shine 
for an hour. On the latter consideration much must, of course, 
depend, as it would be equally as unreasonable to expect 
cactaceous plants to succeed without sunshine, as to imagine ca¬ 
mellias and similar objects will thrive in a full flood of bright 
light. Of course it is preferable to have the command of this 
