CONSTRUCTION OF PLANT-HOUSES. 9 
Sometimes an unsightly corner or recess, a grievance where- 
ever it is seen, may, by the aid of a few lights judiciously placed, 
be converted into an object of interest; then, indeed, character 
and style must give place to convenience or bare possibilities, 
though it is not often that taste is altogether precluded from 
showing itself. 
In these, and indeed all other horticultural erections, much 
might be gained, both in appearance and utility, by the employ¬ 
ment of smaller timbers ; in many even modern houses, light is 
excluded, and a sombre character given by the tremendous rafters 
and plates that are used. These we object to as being unsightly 
and not necessary; if care is taken in the selection of the tim¬ 
bers employing only the best, and it is afterwards properly tied, 
perhaps half the ordinary dimensions will be found sufficient; 
however, we shall have more to say on this head presently. 
There is another class of houses which belong to the orna¬ 
mental division, and we are pleased to observe they are occupying 
increased attention :—these are those in which it is endeavoured 
to impart an idea of the natural habitats of the plants grown, by 
the introduction of water roclcwork, trees, and other features of 
out-of-door scenery, and by grouping, or otherwise disposing the 
plants in the manner most resembling their native positions. 
This is a field in which the finest tastes may revel without danger 
of satiety; indeed we feel some diffidence in approaching the 
subject, so intricate and nice are the distinctions which run 
through it; to form a complete and proportionate panoramic 
model of a portion of a country, in the space of a few square 
yards, is a work which requires imitative talent and sound discri¬ 
minating taste of no mean order. Still for this branch of garden 
architecture, as for all others, there are leading principles which 
should be observed, or the effect falls short of the imaginative 
anticipations. It should be first determined what kinds of plants 
are to be grown, and then the physical character of the country of 
which they are for the most part natives must be closely studied, 
in order to'arrive at a near resemblance to its leading features; 
and even the minutice of the erections should be copied from the 
localities which the plants are derived from. Thus if the group 
of plants included in the order Cactaceae are to be cultivated, the 
characteristic of the house should be a bold, irregular, rocky out- 
