The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1851-03-12

after, the first seeds ripened, some of them
were titled, and on the sixteenth of Fobru-
airy succeeding, young plants made their APP
pearance. Success, however, brought fresh
embarrassment. The extraordinary lily o.
beyed Natures law of deyeopement with
such unexpected rapidity, that il outgrew the
dimensions of its home in little more than a
month. 1t therefore set MIR. Paxton Il prob
lem to solve; the formula of which was
something like this Given, an exotic grow
ing in greenhouse, at the rate of six hun
dred and loriy.seven square inches Of cir
conference per diem; required, in three
months a new house ot dimensions proper
for its maturity?
Mr.. Paxton went TO work and, combin-
ing all his improvements in constructing
greenhouses, with his special inventions for
maturing the Victoria Regia, he very
soon produced the %. L. d." in the shape
of novel and elegant conservatory, sixty
feet long by forty broad. This building be-
came the immediate precursor Of the gigan-
tic structure in Hyde Park,-,chy necess-
tates a short explanation.
Among the many desiderata required FOL
every kind of habitalion-whether it be de-
signed for plants or princes for pine-house
or palace, for the Victoria Rega, or for
the enormous glass case under which to col
lect the products of All Nations,-the most
imperative conditions, after stability, are,
perfect facilities for drainage and for ventila-
ton; another, though scarcely subordinate
proviso, is economy. The man who can
construct houses which shall repel external
humidity, and allow of n constant and gen
tie change Of atmosphere at any conlrollable
temperature, and at the lowest cost consis-
tent with durability, is. of course, the prince
of builders. Now, in order to be econom-
ical, he must necessarily so manage, that
each of his materials shall perform as many
different functions as ii is possible for it to
perform cllectually. If he build walls which
answer for warmth and strength only, if he
add cutters for drainage, and il he call in
DR.. Reid for ventilation, he may probably,
build good habitation, but ii will certainly
be a costly, perhaps clumsy one and will
urn out very longjob. Mr.. Paxton, when
he set about the new Victoria Rcgia house
guided by previous study and experience,
and forced into new expcdents by the Pc
ruliorit Of tho o<tr,or1.n,r,. ~ to,or, lao
was building for-had become better econ
omist. The result is, as shown in his latest
chort-thc great Building that his walls
and foundations are not simply walls and
foundations, but ventilators and drains as
well. His roofs are not simply roofs; but,
besides being the most extensive Of known
sky.lights, are light and heat adjusters.
His sash,bars do not only hold the g ass to-
gether, but are selcsupporting, and his raf.
tiers form perfect drains for both sides of the
glass,-for draining Off internal, as well as
external moisture, whilst the tops ofthe grid
ers are conduits also. His floors are dust
traps, and aid in ventilation. Lastly, his
whole building is, while in course of con-
struction, its own scahoding, Thus. he saves
time as well as money.
The Victoria Rcgia house, which com
bines most of the advantages above detailed,
was finished in several weeks less time, and
cost considerably less money, than the slen-
derest old-lashoned conservatory that has
ever been built.
While Mr.. Paxton was busy with this
novel and modern garden house, a hot war |
was raging IN London about site for the |
new building for exhibiting specimens of The
Art and Industry of all nations in 1851. |
MIR, Paxton is reader of the Times" and |
perused with sympathizing interest lis fierce |
y-urged objections against the invasion of
II Hydc Park by armies Of excavators, brick
layers, blacksmiths, and timber-fellers. The
picture daily drawn of the tearing up of
fashionable roads by the carting of more
bricks and mortar (for, mark, a temporary
,diice) than the eternal Pyramids OF Ghizeh
consist Of (; the cutting down from one side of
Rotten Row of its most cherished ornaments,
he trees the Uncertainty OF miles Of brick.
work being put together in time for sun
'ient consolidation to bcar the weight of the
tremendous iron dome designed to rest upon
t; the imPoesibility If the entire mass of
mortar and plaster duly drying All this,
housh occasionally overdrawn and exagcer-
ited, presented black perspective, which
means and appliances of the Victoria Resia
observatory would, thought its architect,
tighten, or altogether obyiate
every new thuuderbolt from the newspaper
iondns, strengthened this notion in the pro.
ector's mind. All that was wanted. was a
reat many great lily houses joined together.
multiplication of hands and materials
ould be readily commanded, and no struc-
ure could be raised so quickly and so cheap
y The promenaders and neighbours ofI
lyde Park would be relieved of the inces.
ant click-click of brickla, ers' trowels.
he maddening noise Of the blacksmiihs' riv-
ting>hammers, and have perfect immunity
rom the hourly transit of bricks and scailod
oles.
fD' A reverend gentleman paid his de.
oirs TO lady, who was possessed in favor of
MIR. Psalier her pariiality being very ev.
lent, the former took occasion 10 ask in
pom full of company" Pray, Miss, how
ar have you got in your Psalter?" The
ldy archly replied-" As far as BIessed ;s | ,