164 THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



tbey in great part take care of themselves ; and having always in 

 view to multiply the horticultural enjoyments of our readers at the 

 least possible cost, we say, build as large a house as possible — build 

 it well, and plant out the trees with ample space between them for 

 admission of light and circulation of air. 



"We can refer back with pleasure to the many designs for fruit- 

 houses which have been made public in the Floral World, and 

 especially those from the fertile invention — invention made addi- 

 tionally valuable, because conjoined with abundant practical ex- 

 perience — of Mr. Howlett, one of our oldest and most valued of 

 contributors. If houses ready made, and needing only the hand of 

 a skilful labourer or the village carpenter to put them up, are re- 

 quired, then those invented and patented by Sir Joseph Paxton are 

 undoubtedly amongst the very best that can be adopted. The 

 extreme simplicity of the construction, the perfect ventilation, and 

 the Hood of light they admit, are conditions eminently favourable to 

 fruit production. The old-fashioned houses, -with heavy rafters and 

 restricted ventilation, that always answered so well for camellias and 

 azaleas, are, as a rule, the worst in which fruit-growing can be 

 attempted. Sir Joseph understood as well as any man that ever 

 lived what were the requirements of fruit-trees, and his invention is 

 a monument to his memory which will bear fruit literally and meta- 

 phorically to his fame in perpetuity, unless the climate should 

 change to that of the south of France, and then we shall have not 

 much need of glass for fruit culture. We have lately seen the 

 cheap fruit-houses designed by Mr. Ormson, of Stanley Bridge, 

 Chelsea, and to which he applies the term Paradigm (example 

 houses). These are made without rafters of the ordinary kind; all 

 the parts are produced by machinery to a uniform pattern, the sys- 

 tem of ventilation is admirable, and they are as elegant in appearance 

 as any structures we are accustomed to meet with, costing twice as 

 much, compared with the area covered. As for old walls with fine 

 old trees upon them, the glass coverings (" Scott's glass walls") 

 manufactured by the St. Pancras Iron Company, deserve notice for 

 their cheapness and efficiency, for by means of these a wall becomes 

 a lean-to house at a comparatively trifling cost, and the trees are at 

 once protected from the destructive influence of the cast winds, and 

 every ray of sunshine, instead of being feared by tke cultivator, is 

 welcomed as afi'ording them life and strength. S. H. 



Effects of the Past Winter. — I see you liave in^eited notices of various 

 losses from the late frosts in other parts of the country. I beg leave to tell you that 

 we here at Ashford, in Kent, as well as others in the neighbourhood, have also been 

 severe sufferers. I myself have lost most of my evergreens, especially Laurestinuses, 

 Bays, Arbutus, Rhododendrons, and even strong Laurels, as nlso some of the 

 choicest named standard and dwarf Roses, and several terra cotta vnses I bought 

 of Whitton, of Stamford, warranted to stand the frost, which, however, crumbled to 

 pieces. I also lost four acres of Matson's Purple-top Swede Turnips, the same as 

 Suttons, of Reading, call their Champion. By inserting this, you will save me the 

 trouble of answering innumerable letters from ladies who knew and admired ray 

 plants much, and who have suffered equally with myself. Turnip seed, I fear, will 

 be very scarce, as I see cattle-feeders are reducing their stock, owing to the great 

 scarcity of even feeding-turnips for preparing cattle for Ma}- markets.— J. F. 



