The Amateur's Greenhouse and Conservatory/Chapter 25
CHAPTER XXV.
A RUSTIC PLANT-HOUSE.
In the garden of our neighbour, J. T. Pickburn, Esq., Stoke Newington, has recently been built a structure combining a plant-house and smoking-room, the whole of which is encased in a rockery, as shown in the accompanying figures. The walls consist of a large body of earth enclosed between two facings of brickwork, proper bricks being used on the inner side to accommodate the glass and carpentry, but on the outside rough "burrs," such as are commonly employed for rockeries in the neighbourhood of London, are employed. The whole of these rough walls are planted with ferns, ivies, and hardy succulents, the result being that the walls themselves constitute a somewhat extensive and eccentric garden.
The plant-house is lighted by windows in the walls and an elegant lantern roof. The entrance to it from the smoking-room is fantastically decorated with "virgin cork." From this rustic doorway the view of the house is novel and pleasing. The roof is furnished with a number of elegant baskets, well filled with showy plants of suitable character, and the walk is terminated by a fountain, at the back of which is placed a number of pieces of looking-glass, which reflect and re-reflect the splashing of the water.
The whole of the structure was put up by Mr. Overall, Horticultural Builder, of 16, Shacklewell Lane, Kingsland.
