Page:The Amateur's Greenhouse and Conservatory.djvu/17

Rh the lowest are so far from the glass that they must be drawn and blanched and miserable.



The question of material is one of comparatively small importance, because houses of equal value as regards plant production may be secured in either iron or wood, and with either brick or stone or concrete walls. But of necessity there may arise occasions for particular care as to selection of materials, and a few remarks on this part of the subject will be appropriate in this place. To begin with:—at ground line, the question arises, shall we have walls or glass only from head to foot? The Paxtonian houses consist of lights resting in a wooden trough which catches and carries away the rain water, and the thrust of the rafters is received by “chairs” or rests of wood which lodge on blocks of concrete or stone sunk in the ground. Between walls of brick and wood the difference is all in favour