THE COTTAGE GAllDENER. 
Frbruahy 5. 
L 
is it possililo a grealcr amount of iiglit can Le olitaineil? 
In llie construction of a lean-to roof, as l)efoi’e. describeil, 
a less amount of light would be obstructed tlian by covering 
tbe same space with a lidge-ambfurrow rof)f, tiy where you 
will; and ns to a more equal diffusion (d' tbe sun’s iiiHuences | 
being oldained by tbe span-roof than by a lean-to one, | 
where will it be found in practice? Supposing a span- 
roofed bouse, and a lean-to oiie exactly the same dimensions, 
built parallel with each other logitudinally ('ast and west, 
facing direct south, what advantage does one possess over , 
tbe other ? , 
As to the immense saving of fuel effected in the span- i 
roofed house over the other, how is that? Wilt it be i 
asserted, that a structure composed of all glass, or as nearly j 
so as may be, can be heated, and the heat maintained, at a , 
less cost for fuel than a lean-to one against a wall? The ' 
latter possesses one advantage, at all events; namely, the 1 
back wall absorbs the heat dining the day, and gives it off I 
again during the night; whereas, glass, it is well known, is , 
not an absorbent of heat; consequently, such a structure 
will cool much sooner, and, therefore, necessarily cannot 
take less fuel to keep up tbe internal temperature. i 
As to the “pi'olongation of the days” by having a span- * 
roof, perhaps, on reflection, that will be found to be incori-eet, ; 
or, at least, not intended to convey the meaning the words 
would infer. What value are the sun’s rays after about 
half-past three o’clock p.3i. during the four winter months, 
November, December, January, and I’ebruary, even sup¬ 
posing one-third to be clear days, which they rarely are ? 
Then, which of the two houses will have the advantage of 
maintaining an equal temperature at the least expense; 
the one against a well-protected wall, or the one of glass 
completely exposed ? 
Again, suitpose a house to be erected, as before stated, as 
nearly all glass as possible, on a terrace, where would the 
stoke pit, cliimney, Ac., be placed, so as to beat it ? Certainly 
not at the end; it would not be very ornamental, looking 
from a drawing-room window’, to see a chimney shaft pouring 
forth volumes of black smoke; for even if coke were used 
such would be the case at times, to remedy which w’ould 
be attended with considerable expense, and loss of heat 
also, that w'ould very much diminish the economy in erecting 
such a structure. Economy is now the order of the day, 
combined with efficiency, except to those to whom money is 
not an object. 
As to a span-roofed house containing dottble the number 
of pot-plants, in better condition, than a lean to one of the 
same dimensions, in what comlition would the plants be 
placed on tbe north side of a stand under tlie span rofif, 
supposing they were not to be moved ? or, if such a 
structure were erected for the growth of Grapes, or Pines, 
would either flourish so welt under the north as under tho 
south ? 
There is, or, at least, was, a Pine pit at the Gardens at 
Hampton Court Palace built exactly as described, the fire¬ 
place at the east end; but there w’as no comparison in the 
appearance of the plants on the north side to those on 
the south side. 
After all has been said, and tried, and done, it is 
impossible, to quote the old adage, “to make the sun ' 
shine on both sides the hedge.” , 
A span-roof casts little or no shade on the surrounding ; 
I grounds; if not, the plants do that are in it, or it must be | 
I invisible altogether. If it possesses such very desirable | 
! advantage, how is it they are not now universally adopted ' 
' in practice? Is there one span roofed Grapery in ten; 
throughout the whole length and breadth of the land ? | 
, There are many good Grape-growers to be found, and their j 
grapes are generally grown in lean-to liouses. I hope some | 
of your readers, or correspondents, will be able to elucidate 
the subject more clearly, and that, at all events, the dis- ' 
cussion of the subject may elicit the truth.— John Pannel. i 
GARDEN HERBACEOUS PI.ANTS. ^ 
1 
Ax an earlier period in gardening history we find that 1 
herbaceous plants constituted the principal ornaments of ' 
the flower borders. Every garden of importance possessed ' 
its collection, and considerable care was bestowed on their 
cultivation. 
An entire revolution has now taken place by the intro¬ 
duction of bedding-plants; their capability of continuing in 
bloom for tbe most jiart of tbe summer, togidher witli their 
compact habit, and facility of propagation, rendering them 
admii-ably adaiitod for forming masses of distinct colouring, 
whiidi, by skilll'nl arrangement, iiroduce a pleasing ctfect. 
The former having been thus superseded, it is natural to 
suppose that the more delicate species would soon disappear, 
leaving hehind them, in most cases, only tlu' coarser and 
least attractive, which tends to retain for them but few 
admirers. 
There appears, however, in the meantime, a reviving 
taste for the re-introduction of tbe finer varieties of those 
interesting plants, although, as I have stated, our iiresent 
decorative plants are all that is desirable in making a 
disjdaj’; still, tbe species emjiloyed are so limited, that in 
vain may we look to a modern flower-garden for that infinite 
variety of form, structure, and essential distinction, in which 
nature in all its departments so much abounds; whereas, a 
well-selected collection of herbaceous plants might exhibit 
almost evei'y type of the vegetable kingdom, and deserve 
fo have a jdace assigned for them in every garden; wbero, 
instead of detracting from the more ornamental iiorlion, 
they would lend to enhance the interest of the whole. 
Many sorts, 1 have admitted, are coarse and uninteresting, 
exciqit to those whose cultivated intellect perceives strange 
beauty in tbe things which others idly pass by; but those 
it is our present purpose to avoid ; and, with a view of 
assisting the “ amateur,” 1 shall occasionally, through the 
medium of these columns, refer to a portion of the sorts 
most worthy of cultivation, assuring him, that should my 
remarks fail to afford any information, my recommendations 
shall not disapjioint him. 
Even at this desolate and gloomy season, when it is 
almost hopeless to search for Elora’s treasures, oxcejit 
under the crystal roofs of greenhouses, we have one most 
interesting genus, which, fearless of winter storms, is just 
bursting into beauty, telling us that they are tbe “flowers 
of an nngenial clime,” and to these “ nurslings of the 
storm” we shall now direct our attention. 
IlEELEKomTs (7’//c Ilellehore, or <’/iiishi)((s Jiose). —Orna¬ 
mental jdants of easy culture, thriving in any common soil, 
and preferring a situation partially shaded, being mostly 
natives of cold regions, such as Siberia and Hungary. 
They are all perfectly hardy; but, in order to bloom them in 
perfection, they require the shelter of a frame, or hand¬ 
glass, when in flower, to protect their blossoms from the 
severity of the winter. AVhen taken up and potted they 
are highly ornamental for tbe greenhouse. 'J'he following 
are tbe species most worthy of cultivation ;— 
H. ATitouur.ENs (Syn. ythcliasiciis). —Stems about one 
foot high; many-flowered; tlowers dark purplish-crimson. 
This is decidi’dly the finest of all Hellebores, and cannot 
be too highly recommended. In bloom from the middle of 
January to the end of IMarch. 
11. laviDUS.—Flower-stems about one foot high, bearing 
numerous flowers of a dull purplish green. Its chief 
recommendations are its peculiar glaucous, fine, evergreen 
foliage, and striking appearance of tbe plant. 
H. MOEK {'J'lic Christmas Rose).—A plant so well known 
that it requires no description. It commences to send up 
its blossoms in autumn, which .are at first pink, clianging 
to white, and latterly to green. In flower during the 
winter months. 
H. MGER, var., ANGUSTiFOLTUs.—Leaves smaller than the 
preceding, cut into narrower segments, and is, in some 
respects, suiiei’ior. The flowers are nearly pure white, large, 
and conspicuous. 
H. Olympicus.—F lotvers light purple, resembling (tiro- 
riihfitis in general appearance, but having larger foliage, and 
more erect flower-stems. 
H. Oi.YJincTJS Ai.uus (Perhaiis the vernalis of some 
catalogues?).—Flowering-stems about one foot high; 
flowers creamy-white, large, and showy. A desirable plant, 
resembling the following, but quite distinct. 
H. Orienxalis.—F lowers large, nearly pure white, closely 
allied to the last. It blooms somewhat earlier, and the 
plant seems a little more delicate. 
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