442 



JOTJBNAL OF EORTICULTUKE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ Juno 2S, 1870. 



of trees. It has no leaveB, but the stalk is covered with brown 

 scales ; the petals of the flower are slightly tinged with pink in 

 the centre, but, in general, they are of a dirty white or brown 

 colour, and transparent ; the stamens are white ; the flowers 

 have a strong smell, partly fragrant, though earthy and un- 

 pleasant. This plant forms a large excrescence on the root of 

 the Tstaka Pittosporum, which is covered with warts ; these 

 increase and become buds. A dozen or more flowers are often 

 on one stem. He first met with it in the mountains near 

 Hikurangi. Mr. Nairn found a similar parasite in the forest 



at the base of Mount Taranaki ; this was also attached to the 

 root of a tree, and had a number of flowers upon it of a light- 

 blue colour. Mr. Williamson afterwards gave Mr. Taylor 

 another specimen, which he found in clearing some ground. 

 The whole plant and flowers were entirely covered with vege- 

 table mould ; the stem between the bracts was of a rusty 

 brown ; there were twenty-five flowers open at once. Another 

 excrescence had eighteen. He states that the odour of one 

 plant was something like that of a ripe Melon, whilst the other 

 had also a disagreeable earthy smell. 



AN AMATEURS ORCHARD HOUSE AND MANAGEMENT.— No. 2. 



[Knowing that in some country districts it is difficult to find i of the roof, they must in a great measure shade the other 

 a builder capable of constructing an orchard bouse, unless ! trees, and at the most an area of 200 superficial feet could be 



furnished with working plans, we sought aid from Mr. J. Colson, 

 architect, 'Winchester, and the following is his reply. — Eds.] 



I send you two designs for orchard houses, such as I think 

 may meet the wants of amateurs. One is for a lean-to, and 

 the other for a" span-roof. The lean-to need not be in a straight 

 line, bat may fit into any angle formed by existing buildings or 



obtained, being not half that of the lean-to. I have therefore 

 suggested, for I am not aware that it has ever been suggested 

 or tried before, that two wire trellises be set up in the centre 

 of the house ; this would then give an area of 304 feet for Vines, 

 still much less than that afforded by the lean-to ; but I feel 

 quite sure that Grapes would ripen well in such a situation, 



wall's, part faciog south and part east ; or if the eastern aspect \ aDd ^ **» arrangement the space enclosed by the structure is 



cannot be had, part south and part west, but 1 do not recom 

 mend the west. It will be Been that the lean-to house, having 

 a ground area of 400 square feet, will hold twenty-five trees in 

 pots, and give a wall surface of 4-50 square feet for Vines, and 

 that the span-roofed house, with the same ground area, will 

 hold twenty-six trees; but in order to do this the trees must 



economised, and the Vines can be more easily attended to on a 

 vertical surface than under the roof. The tendency to start at 

 the ends of the rods can better be checked by bending them 

 horizontally. 



SPECIFICATION FOR LEAN-TO HOUSE. 



The front posts to be of oak, 4 inches by 3, let into the ground 



be put closer together, otherwise it will only hold twenty-four. 3 feet, all sap to be taken off, and the part underground to be 

 Now, with regard to the Vines, if they are grown in the apex | tarred or charred, and the earth to be well rammed round them. 



PL A" 



w>\ 





±}f,. 



Plate 1. 

 A design for a lean-to boose, 50 feet long by h feet wide, inside. 

 Fig. 2.— Part elevation of front. Fig. 3.— Section. Fig. 4— Ground p!( 



Fig. 



Fig. 1.— Elevation of one end. 



Plate 2. 



A design for a span-roofed house, u5 leet long by 16 feet wide, inside. 



Fig. 1.— Ground plan. Fig. 2.— Section. Fig. 3.— Elevation of one end. Fig. 4— Pait elevation of one side. Fig. 5.— Water tubs. 



Plate 8. 

 Details applicable to both hooseB. 

 Fig. 1.— Interior elevation of one of the front lights. Figj_ 2.— Section of ditto. Fig. 8.— Section of one of the top lights. 



Fig. 4.— Plan of front lights. 



Fig. 5.— Section of bar for glaS3, half full size. 



