Page:Professional Papers on Indian Engineerin.pdf/20

 No. XCVIII.

OOTACAMUND GARDEN LODGES AND TOLL-HOUSE.

[Tode Photographs and Plate Nos. I. to IV.]

By CAPT. J. L, L. MORANT, R.E., A8800. Inst. C.E., and F.R.G.S.

The Government Botanical Gardens at Ootacamand are placed in a posi- tion of great beauty. They lie on & steep declivity which was once a wood or " sholah." The opportanity has been taken in laying them ont to mako the most of these advantages. Much of the virgin forest has been retain- ed, and the gardens abound in glades, terraces and swards, from whence extensive views of the distant blue bills are obtainable. One of the latest improvements has been to furnish the gardens with entrance lodges and iron gates and rails.

The two lodges, which sre exactly similar, each consist of two rooms, one 177 x 11 feet, and the other 95 x 11 feet, of the larger rooms, one is for seeds, and the other for herbs; the smaller for an office and for stores, respectively.

These baildings are built of brick and mortar throughout. The base- ments are plastered and chamfered at top. The angles of the building are strengthened by smooth quoins of brickwork plastered projecting and 17 inch from the naked of the wall. The walls bave been built very care- fully with colored bricks (yellow and red) forming the patterns shown in the Photograph All the doors and windows, except those in the gable walls lighting the roof, are square-beaded with chamfered jambs. Their sills, labels and socles are of plastored brickwork, painted in imitation of etone. The front and rear walls are topped with a two layered block cornice separated by a thin string; theso are formed partly of colored bricks, and partly of plastered brickwork. The coping of the gables, which is of plastered brickwork, painted to imitato stone, is purposely high and massive to protect the roofs from the strong gusty side winds which pre- Tail on this site. They are terminated at the eares with high projecting YOL. III.BECOND BERIES. Digitized by Google