|
DESIGNING OF GREENHOUSE, CONSERVATORY AND LATHE HOUSE
|
Landscaping of Highways
-
A conservatory is a glass and metal structure traditionally found in the garden of a large house or public park. Modern conservatories are small
er, can be made of PVC and are often added to houses for home improvement purposes. Whereas, a greenhouse is a structure with a glass or plastic roof and frequen tly glass or plastic walls; it heats up because incoming solar radiation from the sun warms plants, soil, and other things inside the building faster than heat can escape the structure. Air warmed by the heat from hot interior surfaces is retained in the building by the roof and wall. These structures range in size from small sheds to very large buildings. A garden conservatory is usually a small conservatory usually attached to a private house. In this context, a conservatory is distinguished from a greenhouse in having a role as a living space as well as being used to grow plants. If the space is not used to grow plants is it best described as a solarium
-
There is actually very little difference between a greenhouse and a conservatory structurally but these differ as to the use to which they are put. Originally and etymologically the term greenhouse meant a house in which plants are kept there to grow. But sometimes a gre
en house may be used for a different purpose also. For example, in severe winter many plants are kept inside for winter protection only and are not likely to grow. The Amer icans use the term greenhouse to mean any type of glass building inside which plants are grown, except the structures such as cold frames and hotbeds. In England, the term is defined as a glass structure in which plants not requiring a high temperature are cultivated or displayed. In a greenhouse, plants are exclusively grown in pots and tubs. According to the British terminology the trm has wide application as it may include houses in which plants are grown from seed to its maturity, or may mean a house exclusively used for displaying plants which were grown up to the flowering stage in another house.
-
A conservatory differs from a greenhouse in which permanent plants are planted in central beds and the side beds are used for continuous floral display. A conservatory is situated very near the dwelling house and should actually be included in the same architectural plan. This may be connecte d with the house by a corridor or a pergola. In India conservatory is also known as Fernery as in olden days ferns occupied
predominant position in such houses.
-
It will be seen from the above discussion that there is no one terminology which will include all the glass plants houses. Some people may use the term glasshouse to include these but there are other glasshouses also in which plants are not grown. Hence, the best terminology is greenhouse meaning a structure use d for growing living or green plants.
-
Under Indian climatic conditions, the term greenhouse includes a glasshouse for plants and any other structure including Lath house for growing shade loving or greenhouse plants. In the tropical plains of India hardly any glasshouse is used for growing plants except for researches on p lant viruses. Even if gl ass structures are made say for growing cactus and for breeding purposes it is generally only the roof which is made of glass and the sides are covered with fine wire-mesh. Otherwise, a full glasshouse has to be air-con
ditioned to keep it cool during the summer months.
-
In most parts of India a greenhouse and conservatory or fernery, as it is called popularly, is meant for providing shade and cool temperature for th e plants growing within it. A greenhouse provides a cool and pleasant retreat for the dwellers and friends in the hot summer. In high hills, a glass greenhouse is necess ary to grow the more tropical plants to protect them from severe cold weather.
-
The glass used for a greenhouse works as a selective transmission medium for different spectral frequencies, and its effect is to trap energy within t he greenhouse, which heats both the plants and the ground inside it. This warms the air near the ground, and this air is prevented from rising and flowing away. This can be demonstrated by opening a small window near the roof of a greenhouse: the t emperature drops considerably. This principle is the basis of the auto vent automatic cooling system. Greenhouses thus work by trapping electromagnetic radiat
ion and preventing convection. A miniature greenhouse is known as a cold frame.
-
Lath house is a valuable asset in raising seedlings, rooted cuttings, and young rhododendron plants prior to setting them out in the garden. Pro perly used, it will modify the environment in which they are growing by offering protection from hot, drying summer winds, reducing the intensity of the su nlight, lowering temperatures, and by maintaining a higher humidity. During December, January and February, the sides may be covered by plastic sheeting, which will furnish additional protection from the winter cold.
Under Indian climatic conditions, the term green house includes a greenhouse for plants and any other structure including lath house for growing shade loving plants.
|