PEACHES AND NECTARINES STRUCTURES FOR FORCING. 



97 



South 



and still one of the best for early forcing, and where a wall exists it is the cheapest. 

 The trees should be trained to a trellis fixed 1 foot from the glass, and they must be 



4 



planted inside and preferably confined there, but the roots may be allowed to pass outside, 

 as shown in the section (Fig. 27). 



One of the greatest mistakes too often made is the small amount of piping provided; 

 this necessitates highly heating the pipes, involving a great consumption of fuel, and 

 inducing attacks of red spider. Ample provision for maintaining an equable and proper 

 temperature is shown in the sections, the pipes 

 never needing to be made hotter than the hand can 

 bear, and sufficient ventilation a vital matter 

 being provided. Narrow houses, especially those 

 with steep roofs, derive the most benefit from the 

 sun's heat, but they are liable to sudden fluctua- 

 tioDS, and require more attention in ventilating 

 than do wider structures with flatter roofs, desir- 

 able forms of which are shown in Fig. 28. 



Eoof trellises are the most suitable for early 

 forcing, as trees a great distance from the glass are 

 apt to become weak. Trees against the back wall 

 bear fruit for a time, say, about six years, and by 

 planting bearing trees there, the space, otherwise 

 wasted, may be utilised, but when the roof is quite 

 covered, trees on the wall are no longer profitable. 

 This has led to other arrangements. The front 

 trellis is either taken partly up the roof or a curvi- 

 linear trellis is fixed, so that in either case the 

 whole of the back wall is available for peach or 



nectarine production. These arrangements (Fig. 29) are not advisable for early 

 forcing, but they answer well for trees not started before February for affording 

 midseason and late crops of fruit. 



Span-roof houses with the ends north and south are unsuitable for early forcing, 

 but they answer for midseason and late crops. With the ends east and west, or pre- 

 ferably north-east and south-west, we have the best arrangement for bush, pyramid, 

 standard, or trained trees for supplying large quantities of fruit early in the season. 



VOL. III. 





Fig. 27. LEAN-TO PEACH HOUSE FOB EAELY 

 FORCING. (Scale : \ inch = 1 foot.) 



References : 1, 3-inch drain ; 2, drain- 

 age ; 3, border ; 4, 9-inch brick pillars ; 

 5, batten pathway ; 6, 4-inch hot-water 

 pipes ; 7, li-inch hot- water pipes ; 8, oak 

 sill ; 9, wood ventilator opening the whole 

 length of the house ; 0, moveable roof 

 lights. 



