ART. VII. Design for a small Green-house or Conservatory. By T. T.

Sir,

THINKING it not improbable that the enclosed particulars of a small green-house, or conservatory, might furnish some hints to such of your readers as may be desirous of adding that agreeable appendage to their residences at a reasonable expense, I shall make no apologies for forwarding them to you. There are many who forego this luxury on account of the usual cost of buildings of this kind, when they are ornamental enough to be attached to a house, and also large enough to contain a sufficient variety of plants to look gay throughout the major part of the year. Having found the one, of which I now send you a sketch (fig. 127.), to answer the latter purpose, with merely the assistance of two or three common two-light frames, I do not hesitate to recommend something similar, where the power may be wanting to erect the costly and magnificent building given in Vol. II. p. 170. of your Magazine. My humble one is within the scope of most persons: it was built and fitted up entirely by a common bricklayer and carpenter from an adjoining small village, and cost between 250l. and 260l. I do not here include the expense of heating it, both because the new method by hot water has superseded mine, and because the cockle which heats it warms, through a separate main flue, the lower rooms, passages, staircase, and entrance of my residence. It answers, however, the double purpose extremely well, and as far as it creates a constant flow of pure air from without, by introducing it through a large flue, has that advantage over any plan which only heats the air already in the green-house. I may also observe, that there is an advantage attached to the present plan, which may be a recommendation to such as may be occupying houses for only a limited period: all the roof-lights, side-lights, and doors, consisting of movable frames; and the only expensive articles, which are the lead-gutters, lead-ridges, and cast-iron pillars, being still valuable when the house may be dismantled; the loss upon removal could not be great.

Fig. 123. is the ground plan, of which a a a are three doors, each dividing in the middle; and, being hung upon Collinge's patent hinges, they are lifted on and off with the greatest ease. The letters bare so many Gothic lights, resembling the doors. (fig. 126.) The letters c are cast-iron pipes, conducting the rain-water from the roof-gutters into the drains (d d), which carry it into the tank (f). The letters e are beds containing soil of the quality best suited to their respective plants. The

tank (f) is 12ft. by 10, and 64ft. deep, arched over, and covered with a movable flag-stone at the mouth, supplying the pump (g), through the bottom of whose trough the waste water is again returned into the tank. m is a glass door opening into a library, and n a similar door opening into the drawing-room. Fig. 124. is a section of the main beam, 44 ft. long, extend

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125

ing through the centre of the building, and upon which the inner ribs and lights rest. The gutters, lined with lead (h), are cut out of the solid beam, and fall each way to the three hollow cast-iron pillars (c c c) standing over the centre drain. Fig. 125. is a cross section of the roof, where I lll are the rafters, on which the lights rest, exactly after the same manner as those of the common cucumber frame, with the addition of a slip of wood, 5 in. wide, extending from the ridge to the gutters along the rafters, to cover the outer wood-work of the lights, after they are returned to their places in September. Without this the rain water would find admission down the openings at the sides of the lights. This is essential to the dryness of the house; and if the two or three screws, with which they are fixed, are well greased, they are readily taken off from such lights as are removed for the summer. The three lead gutters (h h h) should be wide enough in the centre to admit of a person walking along it. c is one of the cast-iron pipes, a pillar 9 ft. long, supporting the beam, and having five small wooden shafts round it, to train climbing plants upon. The ventilating shutter ( x) works upon two pivots,

Fig. 126. is one of the upright lights, 6 ft. 8 in. to the spring of the arch, and rising 8 in. in the centre, fitting into a corresponding frame, and secured merely by three bolts (kkk). jj are two windows, 14 in. deep, opening upon horizontal pivots at their centre; the panes of the glass 4 by 4.

Fig. 127. is a slight sketch of the elevation, with the doors and lights removed for the summer; but not being done upon a scale it does not give the proportions, for the height of the parapet, including all the distance from the crown of the arches to the coping, is only 2 ft. 6 in., and the pillars

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The

between them 23 in. wide, bevelled off to 10 inside. glazing of the roof is curvilinear, each pane being only 5 in. by 4; the laps rather more than one eighth of an inch, with putty between, except a small opening at the centre; but where the best crown glass is used, and the panes so narrow, I do not conceive putty necessary, where merely the usual green-house temperature is wanted. Not only is the original cost, and the expense of repairs, most considerably reduced by adopting panes of small dimensions, but breakage from frost is completely prevented, when the laps do not exceed one fourth of an inch. Though my house is 43 ft. by 18, the cost of glazing did not amount to 50l.

If it should be desirable to have a bed or beds, ample directions are given in your Magazine (Vol. I. p. 108.), with this additional caution only, that where the substratum does not afford a ready escape for the water, drains should be made on the outside, and far below the foundation of the house all round; small openings being left in the foundation walls, to allow the water to pass freely from the bottom of the beds. Whilst speaking of those beds in which camellias usually find a place, I cannot help expressing a doubt whether it is not more advisable to have the plants in pots plunged in the soil, should

that situation be preferred, than to plant them in the bed itself, as they are apt to make a profusion of wood and but little blossom. Though the effect of the elevation sent you is much prettier than it appears upon paper, and corresponds with the character of my house, yet it might not accord so well with others of a different style, where the Grecian pilaster would suit better, and where long lintels being used over the door and windows, instead of stone or brick arches, would allow lower battlements and less masonry, so as to admit a greater quantity of light. Not that I altogether agree with you in upholding the necessity of that continuous light (if I may so express it) in a mere green-house, which you advocate so strongly in your different publications, believing that in the summer season many plants derive considerable relief from being at different intervals thrown into temporary shadow as the sun travels round. [We entirely concur in this opinion for the summer season, and for most plants merely ornamental.] I likewise doubt the advantage of having the plants in pots stationed upon stages, where they are usually crowded together, and drawn up into unsightly shapes. In my opinion they show to greater advantage when looked down upon, and the smaller plants may be brought nearer to the eye upon a light metal stand or two, placed where it may best suit. [In this also we entirely agree.] I shall, however, trespass upon you no further than merely to recommend a very liberal use of Read's patent syringe at all times of the year, except in damp weather, and especially for the oranges and camellias.

Should any of your readers wish for further information on any point, which I may be able to supply, it shall be readily given.

Notts, July 29. 1829.

T. T.

ART. VIII.

Notice of a small economical Green-house, built by Mr. William Godsall, Nurseryman, Hereford. Communicated by Mr. GODSAll.

Sir,

I HEREWITH take the liberty of sending you a sketch of a small green-house which I had erected four years ago, having experienced its utility.

I have represented the section within the elevation by dotted lines, thereby occupying less of your valuable room should you think it worth a place in your Magazine. The front and

which, by receiving the winter sun's rays at nearly right angles (if I may so express it), warms the atmosphere of the house considerably at that season when his animating influence should be made the most of; the sloping front and ends cause a very trifling additional expense, and in a house 20 ft. by 14 affords room for 300 pots 4 in. in diameter more than if those lights were upright; and under the projection outside is a snug winter repository for half-hardy plants, &c., plunged in tan; in short, where economy is a consideration, such a house will be found to answer the purpose admirably. Eight years ago I had also a green-house erected, the draught of the chimney of which was not sufficient to carry off the smoke, notwithstanding I had it raised and altered in various ways; and conceiving at last that height had little to do with it, I determined to try what virtue there was in garden pots. I had the chimney lowered considerably, took a pot about 14 in. in diameter, knocked the bottom out, and had it firmly cemented invertedly on the top, over which I put a second of a smaller size, and also a third. (fig. 128. a) The smoke then issued freely

from the top, occasioned by the current of air that passed upwards through the cavities between the pots, on account of their not being quite circular, irregular ones having been purposely selected. Indeed, it has answered the purpose extremely well ever since, and to gardeners it is a cheap and efficacious remedy always at hand: but, perhaps, they would have more confidence in trying the experiment, if I refer them to a much later though more scientific invention described in part li. of the Mechanic's Magazine.

Hereford, January, 1830.

I am, Sir, &c.

WM. GODSALL.