. The book of the garden. Gardening. instance which happened to ourselves very lately, in getting an estimate from a highly respectable tradesman, for the construction of a fixed roof consisting of astragals only, he positively offered to mould the whole at the same expense he would charge for a simple chamfer— that is, dressing them plain. Fig. 772 is that of a rafter of the same size and strength, divested of the mould- ings, engraved to the same scale. In this rafter there is a groove shown under the corner of each sash. We have shown it to afford an opportunity of stating how entirely usel
. The book of the garden. Gardening. instance which happened to ourselves very lately, in getting an estimate from a highly respectable tradesman, for the construction of a fixed roof consisting of astragals only, he positively offered to mould the whole at the same expense he would charge for a simple chamfer— that is, dressing them plain. Fig. 772 is that of a rafter of the same size and strength, divested of the mould- ings, engraved to the same scale. In this rafter there is a groove shown under the corner of each sash. We have shown it to afford an opportunity of stating how entirely useless it is. The original intention was good, as it was meant to allow the condensed steam from within, or the rain water from without, which might find its way down by the sides of the sashes, to escape at the bottom ends of the rafters, and thus tend to their pre- servation. Unfortunately in practice— that trying test of theory—this groove is found to be worse than useless, as, instead of carrying off the water that may find its way to these parts, it becomes soon choked up by dust, and instead of acting as a drain to carry off the water, it keeps it penned up till it is absorbed by the timber—thus laying the founda- tion of rot and decay. Fig. 773 represents the cast-iron rafters used in the gardens at Woburn Abbey, on the scale of 1 l- inch to 4; and as they were ma- nufactured by that highly re- spectable firm, Messrs Jones of Birmingham, we conclude that there are many such in the kingdom. They are also, in their details, somewhat novel, having over them a wooden cop- ing, to lessen the effects of contraction and expansion, as well as conduction of heat and cold—a precaution, we think, for the small surface, quite superfluous; while under them is screwed on a water gutter, composed of wood, and lined with lead—another superfluity, tending only to increase the expense, and render what. ought to be simple and plain, compli- cated and useless. Here, again, we have
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1850, booksubjectgardening, bookyear18
