THE GREENHOUSE. 
165 
that can be employed; it is easily cleaned, does not become 
green from the moisture which surrounds it, and, if of good 
quality, will last for ages: for floors and narrow shelves or stages, 
slabs of half an inch thickness are sufficient. These cost, with 
the fixing, from fivepence to sixpence per square foot; but for 
wider stages, intended to carry large pots, it will be advisable to 
have the slates fully an inch thick, to ensure a proportionate 
strength. The arrangement of the stages must be determined by 
the taste or convenience of the proprietor. In our figure the 
principal one is flat, and placed in the centre of the house, having 
a walk all around it; on the other side of which, and next the 
glass, is a smaller shelf, of about two feet in width, and over this, 
at the pitch of the roof, a still smaller one, for young plants 
which require to be kept close to the light. The centre stage is 
supported by two walls of four-inch brickwork, running length¬ 
wise of the house, and if inch-slates are used, no other bearers 
will be necessary; and by leaving the ends open, access is had to 
the under part of the stage, which forms an excellent store for 
roots in winter, and sundry articles at all times. The other 
shelves are supported by iron brackets, which have a light ap¬ 
pearance, and cause no obstruction in getting to the front pits. 
The cost of a house of the size and description of that mentioned 
is about 120L 
Leaving the particular mode of heating to the discretion of the 
owner, we particularly recommend hot water as the medium. 
The price of four-inch iron pipe, which is most commonly em¬ 
ployed, is about 3s. 6d. per yard, to which is to be added the 
expense of fixing. The gutter pipes made by Messrs. Burbridge 
