Page:Architectural Review and American Builders' Journal, Volume 1, 1869.djvu/743

 I860.] Color of Shades or Blinds. 601 COLOR OF SHADES OR BLINDS. By H. H. Corbin, Bethlehem, Pa. IN a recent number of the " London Gardeners' Chronicle," I noticed an article headed, " Shading for Houses," by Major J. Buckle, of Bangalore, India, in which, while speaking of the " tatties" and "chicks" used, in that tropical clime, t« shade the houses, he states, that he experienced a vast difference, in the amount of glare, while using tatties of different colors. The letter runs: — "Bangalore, September 9//i, 1868. ■ Shading for Houses. — In several of your late issues the question of occa- sional shade for glass-houses has been discussed ; laths hinged loosely together so as to roll up have been suggested, and this at once brought to mind the bamboo "chicks," we use here, to keep out glare ; they are merely split bam- boos, of varying thickness, according to the use to which they are to be put, tied loosely together with string, at intervals of say six inches, so as to roll up when required. [A. common mode of shading on the Continent, where the bright light admits of continuous summer shading. — Eds.] These are often covered with blue cotton cloth inside, and are very efficient. Cuscus "tatties" are used for a like purpose ; they are similarly made of the fragrant roots of the Cuscus Grass, admit more air than the lined " chicks," give a better shade than those not lined ; and when the hot winds blow, if the " tatties" are watered, the tem- perature is much reduced and the sense of smell gratified at the same time. " Tatties" of coarse grass are also used, and it occurs to me that these " tatties," made of coarse grass, or rushes of any kind, would be admirably suited for glass-houses in summer in England. From their construction they would be cooler than the laths, or tiffany blinds, or other expedients, as these absorb and keep in the heat greatly, while a "tatty," with its rugged surface, does not. I have tested this often, and have found that a grass " tatty" would feel cool to the touch, when a paneled shutter simi- larly exposed would be unbearable. The facility of shading and their cheap construction will, I think, commend "tatties" to every glass-house *wner. I have sent you small pieces of a Cuscus " tatty," and of a" chick," as samples ; they have been made very fine to go by post, but they can be made as coarse as desirable. They might also, perhaps, be useful in keeping the temperature sufficiently high in autumn and spring, before regular fires were commenced, or discontinued, and thus serve a further economical purpose. I had an enclosure of thick grass " tatties," as shelter for plants from the sun and wind, during our late hot weather this year. It was eight feet high, and covered with a flat trellis- work of thin strips of bamboo, with the sides of the apertures about one-third of an inch ; this afforded complete shel- ter from the hot, driving, easterly wind, though plenty of air was stirring inside, while the lattice-work covering admitted a chequered sunlight or "half shade" that made the temperature very agree- able ; two and a quarter feet were dug out from the surface, and three inches of sand overlaid, which made the floor- ing two feet below the surface. By this rude contrivance an excellent shelter was made in the hot season for many plants that would otherwise have suf- fered, while the lee walls outside served for shelter from the wind for more hardy plants. We find the wind is a much worse enemy than the sun ; in fact, if we had good shelter from wind, and plenty of water, we should not complain of too much sun.