1873.] PEACH AND NECTARINE. 121 



and growing it in cool houses, be extended to seven months of the 

 year. I have for years in succession gathered ripe Peaches the last 

 week of AjDril, and continued to do so till the last week of October. 



PEACH-HOUSE FOR EARLY FORCING. 



It is needless to occupy time and space with arguments to show 

 that for the early forcing of the Peach a lean-to house, similar to that 

 recommended for the early forcing of the A-^ine, is the best. In all 

 respects it may be the same, except in the t'rellis-work for training the 

 trees to ; and even in this respect the arrangement may be the same, 

 except that the roof should be wired more closely for Peaches than for 

 Vines. However, in those days of clear glass, making hothouses much 

 lighter than they could be made in former times, I would recommend the 

 arranging of the trees as shown in fig. 9. The curved trellis in the 

 centre of the house, with room between it and the front of the house, 

 gives great convenience and facility for attending in every way to the 

 trees. At the same time, the greater part of the back wall can be 

 covered also, thus giving a larger fruit-bearing surface than when the 

 trees are trained closely up all the way under the roof. The arrange- 

 ment shown in fig. 9 gives a greater variety of position and tempera- 

 ture, and consequently a longer succession of ripe fruit. The quantity 

 of pipes for Peach-forcing need scarcely be so much as for the Yine. 

 Pour rows of 4-inch pipes along the front and both ends of a lean-to 

 house 1 6 feet wide, will be sufficient. A steaming-tray should also be 

 attached to the pipes. 



I have ripened Peaches in April in houses not more than 8 feet 

 wide — mere glass cases ; but such small houses are so very easily 

 influenced by the fluctuations of the weather, that they should never 

 be adopted. And a house of the dimensions of fig. 9, I consider not 

 too large. But this is a matter that admits of modification, according 

 to circiunstances. 



PEACH-HOUSE WHEN RIPE PEACHES ARE NOT REQUIRED BEFORE JULY. 



When ripe Peaches are not required before July, the span-roofed 

 form of house, the same as has been recommended for late vineries, 

 is the best. It should, of course, run north and south. The span- 

 roofed form afi'ords a great amount of training surface, and gets the sun 

 morning, noon, and evening. The wires should be fixed at 14 inches 

 from the glass, and 8 inches apart. There are some fine examj)les of 

 span-roofed Peach-houses at Floors Castle, 60 feet long, 20 feet wide, 

 and 16 feet high. The whole surface of glass from the bottom of the 

 front lights ujDwards is available for being furnished with bearing- 

 wood, as it gets ample light. Tor heating such houses, there should 

 be at least tliree rows of 4-inch pipes round each side and both ends, 



