On supporting science journalism
If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.
Some time ago rough plate glass was proposed for hot houses in place of the clear translucent kind. In respect to its use the London Gardeners' Chronicle says :mdash;The garden committee directed the rough rolled plate glass to be tried in the garden of the Horticultural Society at Chiswick. For this purpose a small pit, unventilated except by sliding the sashes, and heated by hot water pipes, was selected. In the last week of Aug., 1851, this pit was filled with soft wooded plants, which can only be kept in health in the presence of a large quantity of light. The experiment was thus set in action without any special care having been taken to make it succeed ; on the contrary, everything was against success. It is needless to say that the months of October, November, and December were more than usually gloomy, and that neither January nor February offered any advantage over those mouths in ordinary years. In addition io this it was often necessary to leave the plants in the dark all day long, in consequence of the sashes being covered with frozen mats, which could not be removed.mdash; Nevertheless, and notwithstanding these impediments, the experiment was perfectly successful. On the plants being produced, at a subsequent meeting of the Horticultural Society, by Mr. Gordon, to whom the experiment was confided, they appeared in the most beautiful health, with firm, short wood, broad, thick, clean, bright-green leaves, and in the case of the Gesneea and Pentas, with flowers perfect in color, size, and form. In short, it may be said, without the least exaggeration, that more perfect examples ot high cultivation were never seen, and few so perfect. It wa3 clear that there had been no deficiency of any element or condition which is required for the most perfect health. This conclusive proof of the excellence of rough plate glass possesses the highest agricultural interest. It shows that gardeners are now secured effectually from the scorching effects of the sun during summer, and that all the costly as well as inconvenient contrivances for shading may in k future be dispensed with."
