164 
THE GREENHOUSE. 
thus managed: a space is left open between the top rail of the 
sashes and the ridge plate on either side, for the entire length of 
the house; over this, at a slight elevation outside, is placed a 
protection board, to throw off rain, &c., while descending from it to 
the rail of the lights is a valve-board on either side ; these boards, 
by being hung on pivots, are easily drawn up by means of a 
cord and pulley, and thus egress for heated air is instantly ob¬ 
tained in the most proper place for ensuring a thorough yet mo¬ 
derate current of fresh air from the open lights in front. Along 
the sides of this house are shown dwarf pits, the most appropriate 
receptacles for small plants, and here an important improvement 
presents itself. Instead of wasting nearly half the entire cost of the 
erection in useless brick walls, it is proposed to support the house 
by continuing the upright timbers through the sill down to the 
ground level, where they enter a plate laid on a footing of bricks. 
These stanchions will be found'equally as secure and lasting as 
a nine-inch wall; and in front of them, proceeding from the 
under side of the sill, are the lights, which project about three 
feet to form the pits before spoken of. An interior connexion ex¬ 
isting between them and the main body of the house, beneath the 
front shelves, in consequence of there being no wall, the appa¬ 
ratus intended to supply the required heat to the house, by occu¬ 
pying its usual position, will at the same time, and at no greater 
expense, impart a sufficient warmth to the atmosphere of these 
pits, while the gardener will have the very great advantage of 
attending to his young nurslings in bad weather, without the 
trouble or danger to be feared from the sudden rush of cold air 
consequent on opening the lights on the outside. The cost of 
the necessary lights and framework for the pits is considerably 
less than the expense of a wall; and thus money is'saved—the 
additional standing of the very best and most useful description 
positively gained for nothing — the proper strength of the house 
left unimpaired—and the general appearance of the erection, both 
externally and internally, greatly improved. 
We present this plan to the notice of the public, feeling convinced 
that its many advantages will be certainly seen and appreciated. The 
paths, stages, shelves, and tanks for containing the water collected 
from the roofs of all horticultural erections, should be formed of 
slate, as we find it to be the cheapest and most durable material 
