Woodward's Graperies and Horticultural Buildings Part 4

Unlike the garden of a country gentleman that blossoms and fruits and pa.s.ses away in a season, the horticultural building properly heated is a perpetual pleasure, a garden the year round; vegetables and fruit and flowers follow each other without intermission.

Very much is due to the foresight and energy of Mr. Sherwood, in inaugurating the introduction of horticultural structures of this cla.s.s in New York. Few gentlemen of wealth have had the same opportunity, and few less would have the courage to take the first bold step in this matter. It cannot, however, by horticulturists, be looked upon as an experiment, however much those inexperienced in such matters may be disposed to criticise.

We are sure that Mr. Sherwood has done something that will advance the cause of Horticulture, and equally sure that he will be successful in the result. We shall feel much interested in his progress.

DESIGN No. 13.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 36.--_Perspective._]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 37.--_Ground Plan._]

In our present ill.u.s.tration we have an example of what may be done with a wall. It was necessary, for certain purposes, to cut away an embankment, and build a sustaining wall. After this had been done, we were asked if the wall could not be devoted to some useful purpose, and it was determined to build a lean-to grapery against it. The chief difficulty in the way was the wet and springy nature of the ground at the level marked water line in _Fig._ 38. It was found, however, that it could be drained; but at certain seasons of the year surface water would acc.u.mulate from the overflow of a milldam. But there is generally some way to overcome difficulties. In this case, the border was placed inside the house, and well raised, with a firm concrete bottom between the ground and water lines, and suitable drains connecting with the main drain under the front wall, to secure the requisite degree of dryness inside. Up to the present time we believe every thing has gone on very favorably. We have no doubt that many other places, now deemed useless, might be converted into good graperies at an expense that the results would fully warrant. In case this was successful, it was the owner's purpose to extend the house along the wall at the left; and it was therefore deemed best to insert the valley at the angle, to save future expense in tearing down the end of the house.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 38.--_Section._]

_Fig._ 36 is a perspective view of the house, which, in connection with _Fig._ 38 will give the reader a good idea of the general arrangement.

_Fig._ 37 is a plan.

DESIGN No. 14.

Our next ill.u.s.tration is a hot grapery. It is forty-one feet long and twenty feet wide. _Fig._ 39 is a perspective view. It is covered with a low, continuous, curvilinear roof, and is without side lights. The omission of side lights materially lessens the cost of the house, and secures additional warmth. In some cases, side lights serve no other purpose than architectural effect. Graperies, propagating houses, and plant houses generally may very well be constructed without them; some of these houses, indeed, are very much better without them.

In the present instance, to prevent what is called a "squatty"

appearance, and also to give additional headway, the side walls were carried up some twenty inches above the ground line. The house is thus made to a.s.sume a handsome appearance. Air is introduced into the house at the sides, through underground wooden air chambers opening on the inside near the walk. Instead of these wooden air chambers, we now use six inch glazed pipes, as being more convenient and durable. It is an effective and excellent mode of introducing fresh air, without letting it directly on the plants. Ventilation is effected by the sash over the end doors, and also by ventilators placed along the ridge board.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 39.--_Perspective._]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 40.--_Ground Plan._]

_Fig._ 40 is the ground plan. At the north end a small room is part.i.tioned off for a boiler pit. On one side is a chest of drawers for seeds, &c., and on the other some shelving. In connection with the boiler pit is a coal bin, not, however, of very large capacity. The house is heated by two four-inch pipes, the design being not to work the house very early. The border is entirely inside the house, and is composed princ.i.p.ally of sod, muck, and gravel, with the addition of some old manure and bone shavings. The vines have done well, annually ripening a fine crop of fruit, and the house has in all respects proved to be satisfactory.

DESIGN No. 15.

This is a plan of a range of houses designed and built for Joseph Howland, Esq., of Matteawan, N. Y. It is a large and imposing structure, befitting the character of Mr. Howland's ample grounds. It stands at the north end of the kitchen garden, and conceals it from the dwelling, from which the range is in full view. A part of the structure on the right, used as a green house, not shown in ground plan, was built some four or five years ago with the old sliding sash roof, which was found so unsatisfactory that at the time of the erection of the new portion, this roof was removed and replaced with a curvilinear fixed roof to correspond with the rest.

It will be observed that the range is divided into two parts by a road-way. The design of this was to enable the family to visit the houses at any time in the carriage without exposure to the weather, and enjoy the fruits, flowers, and temperature of tropical climates, without the necessity of leaving their homes.

The north side of the middle houses is covered with boards and battened.

End ventilation being impracticable here, top ventilation is increased so as to meet all requirements.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 41.--_Ground Plan._]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 42.--_Double Gate._]

_Fig._ 41 is the ground plan. On the right is the old green house, a portion of the foundation of which is shown. This communicates with the hot grapery and tool house, under which is a capacious root cellar. From the covered road-way, all the parts of this extensive range are easily accessible. Across the road-way, between the houses, is a handsome double gate, a sketch of which is given in _Fig._ 42.

Crossing the road-way, we enter the cold grapery. The foundation of this rests on piers, the border being outside. There are hot-water pipes in this compartment, to be used only to keep out frost. It may, however, be used as a "second" hot grapery. Pa.s.sing out of the cold grapery, we enter what may be called the conservatory, its princ.i.p.al use being for the show of ornamental plants; and to this end it has several accessories which add much to its beauty. One of these which may be noticed is a neat fountain in the centre; always a pretty feature wherever it can be introduced. Another is a rustic niche or alcove in the north wall, built of rough stones, over and through which the water constantly trickles into a basin. Its full beauty will not be seen till it has acquired age, and become covered with mosses and ferns.

Fortunately for the plants and for good taste, there is no shelving in this house. Beds are formed of brick, with a neat coping, in which the pots are set. This arrangement is much more effective than any manner of staging could possibly be.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 43.--_Interior View._]

In order to give the reader an idea of the interior of this apartment, we have prepared a perspective view of it. (See _Fig._ 43.) From this a good conception can be formed of the appearance and arrangement of the beds, fountain, &c.

Returning through the cold grapery, we have on its north side a boiler and potting room. The boiler pit is sunk beneath the floor of this room, and has connected with it a coal bin and shoot. Communicating with the potting-room is a propagating room, in the north end of the conservatory, and divided from it by a solid part.i.tion. It is provided with hot-water pipes for furnishing bottom heat. It will propagate all the bedding and other plants needed on the place. It will thus be seen that there are ample facilities for furnishing an abundant supply of grapes and flowers. The house, as a whole, forms a marked feature of the grounds.

DESIGN No. 16.

The following design was prepared for Dr. Butler, of the Retreat for the Insane at Hartford, Conn. The doctor had conceived the idea that a green-house might be made to serve a very important part in the treatment of the insane, having noticed the soothing influence of plants upon his patients, more especially the females. We have no doubt that his antic.i.p.ations will be fully realized; for we can scarcely conceive of anything better calculated to heal the "mind diseased," than daily intercourse with these voiceless, but gladsome children of Nature.

_Fig._ 44 is a perspective view of the house. It is twenty-four feet wide and seventy-five long. It has a low, curved roof, and side sashes three feet six inches high. We do not make these roofs low for the sake of architectural effect, though this point is certainly gained; but rather for the sake of the plants, a low roof, in this respect, possessing incalculable advantages over one that is steep. When attention is once generally fixed on this point, plant growers will not be slow to acknowledge the superiority of the low roof. It has often surprised us that gardeners will a.s.sume a great deal of unnecessary labor for the sake of an old prejudice. Some of them are slow to avail themselves of improvements that not only lessen their toils, but bring greater certainty and pleasure to the pursuit of their profession. Others, again, are quick enough to avail themselves of every facility brought within their reach. We could wish that the latter cla.s.s might multiply rapidly.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 44.--_Perspective View._]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 45.--_Ground Plan._]

One of the prettiest features about this house is its rounded ends. The pitch of the roof and the width of the house are such, taken in connection with the circular ends, that all the lines flow into each other with the utmost harmony. These different parts were studied with reference to producing this result, and we think it has been done with some degree of success. The finials, the ornament along the ridge, and the entrance door, are all in keeping with the rest of the structure.

_Fig._ 45 is the ground plan. This presents some peculiarities. The house being designed for the use of the insane, it was desirable to place the heating apparatus out of their reach; the boiler is therefore placed under ground. For this purpose a vault of sufficient size to hold the boiler and several tons of coal, is built under ground in front of the house. It is substantially built of brick, and arched over. The smoke shaft is carried up through the roof, and finished above ground in the form of a column or pedestal, surmounted with a vase, as seen in _Fig._ 44. To harmonize the grounds, and conceal the purpose of this column, another is placed on the opposite side of the path. In summer, these vases will be filled with plants, and the columns are intended to be covered with vines, thus making them subserve an ornamental purpose.

There are two entrances to the boiler vault, one from within by a concealed trap-door, and the other from without. The house will be heated by hot water pipes.

There will be neither shelves nor tables in the house. The plants will be set either on or in the ground, and the whole interior made to resemble as much as possible a flower garden. The plants will thus be easier seen, better enjoyed, and more appreciated than if placed either on tables or staging. In any well-designed house, the plants look and grow infinitely better upon flat tables; and a large cla.s.s of plants will grow even better upon the earthen floor of the house.

DESIGN No. 17.

Our next example is a lean-to grapery for early forcing. It was designed for a gentleman in Connecticut, and we believe has since been built.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 46--_Perspective View._]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 47.--_Ground Plan._]

_Fig._ 46 is a perspective view. It runs east and west, and is designed to correspond in a measure with another house on the place, though the roof of this is much flatter. There are no side lights. Ventilation is effected by openings along the ridge, and by the sashes over the doors, which are hung for the purpose. The roof is continuous, and both ends of the house are glazed.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 48.--_Section._]

_Fig._ 47 is the ground plan. The sills of the front or gla.s.s part rest on brick piers, to allow the roots of the vines to run out, the border being both in and outside the house. A wooden part.i.tion on the north side of the walk divides the house into two unequal parts, the north being used for a potting shed, tool house, etc. This apartment is furnished with tables, etc., and is well lighted by windows at the side and ends. A water tank is conveniently placed in the middle. In the northwest corner is the boiler pit. This is sufficiently large to hold coal, and is furnished with a shoot for throwing it down. The grapery is to be heated by four rows of pipes, the object being to force early.

_Fig._ 48 is a section, showing the arrangement of pipes, walk, etc.

DESIGN No. 18.

Plant houses having a specific object in view, it is not possible to indulge in a great variety of forms without sacrificing their utility, or creating a great deal of room that can not be applied to any useful purpose whatever. In this respect they differ in a marked manner from dwelling-houses, which allow of great lat.i.tude in design and construction. That some degree of picturesqueness, however, is consistent with utility, we think will be apparent on examining the design herewith presented. The plan was made for H. B. Hurlbut, Esq., of Cleveland, Ohio. It is intended for a green-house and hot-house combined. It is located near the dwelling and in sight of the public highway. It is in the form of a cross.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 49.--_Perspective View._]