In conservatories of this kind, a piece of ground of from 100 ft. to 500 ft. in length, and of proportionate width, is laid out as a garden (as shown in the ground-plan fig. 371.), with walks, beds of flowering shrubs, baskets of flowers, rockwork, fountains of water, vases, statues, seats, or, in short, any kind of decoration common in garden scenery; and then the whole is covered with glass, and supported by pilasters, which are made hollow to serve as tubes for conveying the rain to cisterns underground, from which the fountains are fed. The pilasters, also, serving as supports, round which climbing plants are twined; other similar plants being trained along the rafters, and suffered to hang down, as in the large conservatory in the Botanic Garden, in the Regent's-park. The outward elevation of houses of this kind is generally very simple, as their claim for admiration depends on their interior, which is generally very splendid. The appearance of a garden of this kind may be easily imagined. The mode of heating is generally by hot air-chambers, or hot water pipes carried under the walks, with gratings at regular intervals to admit the heat into the house; and a very moderate degree of heat is generally found enough, unless tropical plants are to be grown.

The roof may consist of three spans, as shown in fig. 372., each terminating in an angle, as shown in fig. 373., on the apex of which are fixed the ornaments represented in figs. 374. and 375. In fig. 372., a is the door, b the front without the glass to show the frame-work, and c the other part of the front, with the glass in it to show the form of the panes.