384 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[March 20. 
managed are far more interesting than a large collection 
distinguished for nothing hut, perhaps, general infe¬ 
riority. 
The Greenhouse is a light airy structure designed for 
plants from comparatively temperate latitudes, and high 
altitudes in tropical regions, which can sustain a lowish 
temperature, hut cannot withstand the vicissitudes from 
frost to sunshine, and from damp to dry, of our common 
| winters. It is distinguished from a plant stove in re¬ 
quiring but little artificial heat; and from a conservatory 
J in having all the plants (with, perhaps, the exception of 
1 climbers for the rafters) grown in portable pots or tubs, 
i and these generally set upon a stage to bring them 
nearer the glass. 
The mode of constructing such a house must be regu¬ 
lated by the wishes of the proprietor, and the conve¬ 
niences at his disposal. For general purposes any 
aspect will do in an emergency, except the north, and 
that might be selected for those plants that delight in 
the shade. The more command of light, with the means 
at hand of contracting its fierceness and heat when too 
powerful, the better. From due south to south-east and 
south-west, may be considered the best aspects. If it is 
a lean-to house, having a sloping roof from a back wall, 
it should always have a considerable amount of upright 
glass in front to receive the oblique rays of the sun in 
winter. By the side of a cottage ornee the front of the 
house may thus partake of the same style of architecture, 
while the shed-like sloping roof may be exchanged for 
a ridge and furrow one, and that concealed from external 
observation by a light entablature or frieze work. For 
a neat detached structure it should stand, less or more, 
north and south, have a ridge and furrow roof, and 
means for breaking the sun’s rays in the morning and 
afternoon. We are supposing it to be glass all round. 
When in connection with other buildings, a very useful 
and elegant house is formed, having the front and ends 
of glass, a hipped roof, and an opaque back wall. Here, 
likewise, by an ornamental entablature, the roof, if de¬ 
sirable, may be wholly or partially concealed, so as 
not to interfere with architectural propriety, though we 
should have no great scruples on this score, as the utility 
of an object, if apparent, gives it appropriateness. 
The size of the glass to be used must depend upon the 
taste and the money wished to be spent by the pro¬ 
prietor. For the roof, especially, it will be desirable to 
have it at least sixteen ounces to the foot. Small squares 
can be procured in boxes very cheap, as seen in the 
advertising columns. These are the waste from cutting 
large squares. There is, however, a drawback to the 
seeming advantage. What you gain in glass you will 
partly lose from requiring so many sash-bars. Large 
squares of glass are very pleasing, and glass merchants 
will let you have them of almost any size. We should not 
care about having them much above eighteen inches in 
length, as if much larger, when ono is brokeh it is a crash 
indeed. All things considered, if we were to roof a house 
most economically, we should obtain strong machinery-cut 
sash-bars, dispense with rafters, use glass from fifteen to 
eighteen inches wide, and say afoot in depth, and secure 
means of ventilation without touching the roof, by means 
of the upright glass, and wooden ventilators at the ridge 
in the roof, and in the back wall. I cannot speak expe¬ 
rimentally of the rough patent glass, but I have seen 
a good portion in use, and the gardeners say they have 
light enough for anything. If so, the getting rid of 
shading will be getting rid of a great annoyance. 
Stages. —These are generally shelves, arranged in 
stair-like fashion, partaking less or more of the character 
of the roof. For a general collection, the stage may be 
from five to six feet from the glass roof; for insuring 
dwarf, compact bushy plants, the distance should be from 
three to four feet. The lowest shelf of the stage should 
be a little higher than the shelf that surrounds the house 
next the front glass. Where the roof is hipped, even 
though the back wall be opaque, if the house faces the 
south, the stage should be hipped too, terminating in a 
single shelf, broad or narrow in the centre. The north 
part would be admirable for keeping many plants in 
winter, and exhibiting in summer those that were in full 
bloom. In a wide bouse it is always preferable to 
have several stages, in the shape of circles, ovals, 
or triangles, whatever is most approved, with walks 
between them. The greater expense, and the room 
apparently lost, are more than made up by the ease 
with which all the plants may be examined, and the 
greater thickness with which they may bo safely set, as 
the pathways will be so many breathing zones. For 
low-hipped roofed and ridge-and-furrow-roofed houses, 
flat table-like trellised stages will be tbebest; the highest 
plants being set in the centre, or, if necessary, one being 
placed now and then on a pot. As an improvement on 
this, where extreme economy was the object, we would 
dispense with the wooden trellis, and substitute a bed of 
earth, kept in its place by brick-walls, the earth being 
first covered with cinders, and then with pure sand, on 
which to set the pots. The damping of this sand from 
watering in summer would be a source of health to the 
plants, and save them from many visitations. Small 
inclosures in such an earth-pit, if suitable compost were 
used, would be a splendid place for the less hardy creepers, 
which would be likely to maintain a lingering existence 
if planted as they sometimes are in a border close to the 
front wall. 
Temperature. —This must be regulated by the object 
aimed at. If merely preserving the plants is the object, 
then artificial heat may only be applied to maintain a 
temperature of from 35° to 40°. This low tempera¬ 
ture must not, however, be long continued in a stagnant 
atmosphere. It will, therefore, be necessary to raise the 
temperature to admit air during the day. Where it is 
desired slowly to grow the shoots, and to keep a winter 
display of plants in bloom, the temperature must not 
sink below 45°. In either case a rise of 10° or 15° may 
be allowed for sunshine in winter. In summer the chief 
difficulty will be to keep the house cool by admitting 
all the air possible, and having it on night and day. 
If the plants are turned out into pits and shady places, 
and even very sunny places if their nature requires it, 
and their place is supplied with tender annuals, &e., then 
more closeness and moisture must be obtained—a limi¬ 
tation of air and plenty of moisture giving all the essen¬ 
tials of a plant stove. 
Mode of sustaining A rtificial Heat. —The best, because 
the most equal and the cleanliest, is hot water; and the 
simplest of all is the best: a compact little boiler, well 
set, and a flow and return-pipe on the simplest prin¬ 
ciples. A small boiler and two-inch or three-inch pipes 
arc the most suitable for a greenhouse where only quick 
and occasional fires are wanted. With strange infatua¬ 
tion, hot-water men are above heating small greenhouses, 
except at a cost that is sufficient to terrify any amateur. 
I have corresponded with several of them, and all were 
to give the subject their best attention; but as yet 
nothing has come of it. Many advertise and tell how 
cheap their boilers are ; but can they not tell what the 
price is, in proportion to their size, fitted with flanges to 
suit certain sized pipes ? Everybody knows the price of 
metal, and what is the use of attempting anything like 
hocus pocus trades’ craft. L have a small lean-to house, 
fifteen feet by seven, which has remained unheated, 
because the lowest tender I have yet had was fifteen 
pounds; while I considered the third of that sum quite 
ample, as I was to do everything but the iron-work. If 
I was near a foundry that would work reasonably to 
order, it could be done for much less; as thirty feet 
of three or five-inch pipe would be quite sufficient, and 
anybody could put them together. The man who will 
i 
