The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-12-14

ments. and may necessitate the calling In of an architect.
 The conservatory should be arranged so that it will have an outdoor entrance as well as one from inside, and 1t should be built so that it can be taken down in sections in the spring and converted into pleasant bower for summer evenings.
 Ii is possible for one to draw up his own plans with a little study. and an intelligent carpenter can execute them satisfactorily. The upper sashes. and some of the lower ones, should swing on hinges or iron pivotS, so they can be opened easily for ventila- tion. One of the greatest drawbacks to house conservatOries Is that they are not prepared to give ventilation to the plants. Plants will not thrive in such places. They require almost daily change of air. and this can be accomplished easily by opening one or two lower and upper sashes, causing the wind to blow through.
 small conservatory should have small coal stove in 1t, and if the house is heated by steam or hot water pipes should be run through to provide heat in ordinary weather. A fire in the coal stove may be needed number of times in winter when the thermometer drops below zero A good deal will be saved in fuel for heating the conservatory if double sashes and sides are provided on all sections, leaving a small space of dry air between. Such conserva- tory can be heated almost by the extra heat from the dining-room.
 The sides and roof of this glass house should be thoroughly covered with dark and light curtains, which will easily draw up and down by pulling a string. One can then graduate the light to suit the needs of the plants, and at night time If the two sets Of shades are drawn they will go a long way toward saving coal bills. Some plants cannot live in light conservatory unless they are protected by dark curtains; and, on the other hand, on cloudy days all the sun light possible is needed. The cost for pro- v'ding extra shades and perfect sash venti- lation will hardly be noticed in the end
 Formerly It was believed that only few plants would live in conservatories in the winter, but florists will tell you today that there is hardly Towering plant that cannot be raised successfully in such surroundings. One may select handsome tropical plants and palms, the gorgeous palms and palmet- tos. or the strange orchids and air plants of the woods. They will thrive if properly at tended to. while the rest of the space can be filled up with ordinary garden plants Annuals and perennials should be raised, W trees. cacti and orchids should be cultivated in pots for permanent use in winter and summer.
 Nourishment Is given to the conservatory plants in the form of specially prepared liquids sold by seedsmen and gardeners, but the best nourishment is given in the form of rich soil in the pot in the fall of the year. If ths,s in good condition it will sun. port the plants through the winter. The question of moisture is also importar, Plants drnk through their leaves a, much as they do through their roots. and in an air saturated with moisture they can Ii,, for weeks without any root watering. It k well, therefore, for the conservatory to he arranged so that a inc spray of water can be played over the plants every few days. saturating the atmosphere.