ORCHARD HOUSES CONSTRUCTION OF A LEAN-TO. 245 



accommodation for the culture of choice, but somewhat tender fruits, superior in 

 size and quality than it is possible to obtain from trees in the open ground, or out- 

 side walls. Since their introduction, orchard houses have been improved in appearance, 

 whilst combining economy in construction with efficiency. The following illustrations 

 and particulars of the conformation of the structures to which they apply have been 

 obligingly placed at our disposal by Mr. Rivers. 



Lean-to House. Suppose a structure 30 feet long is required. An outline 30 

 feet long and 12 feet 6 inches wide should be marked out. Then six posts of oak or 

 good yellow deal, 5 inches by 3 inches, and 11 feet 6 inches in length, or of larch- 

 poles 16 inches in girth, cut in two, and the flat sides placed outwards, must be firmly 

 fixed 2 feet in the ground ; the ground ends, before fixing, should be charred 2 feet 

 6 inches from the bottom, and then have a coat of boiling coal tar. These will form 

 the back line of posts, standing 9 feet 6 inches in height from the surface of the ground. 

 For the front six posts of the same thickness, 6 feet G inches long, must be firmly 

 fixed 18 inches in the ground, so that they stand 5 feet out. Two posts will be required 

 at each end ; these will form the door-posts. On the posts, both at the front and back, must 

 be nailed a plate 6 inches by 3 inches, on which the rafters are to rest. The rafters must 

 be 14 feet long. A 9-inch deal 3 inches thick will make four, each nearly 4^ inches by 

 1^ inch. The rebate for the glass is formed by nailing a slip of ^-inch board exactly 

 in the centre on the upper side of each rafter ; this will leave about ^ inch of the rafter 

 on each side for the glass to rest on. The rafters are fitted to the back and front plate 

 by cutting out a piece on the underside so that they lie level, and are securely nailed, 

 leaving a space of 20 inches between each rebate. A f -inch board, 6 inches wide, must 

 be nailed along the top to the end of each rafter, so as to be even with their upper 

 edges, and in this a groove formed to receive the upper ends of the glass. At the 

 bottom a piece of 1-inch board, 6 inches wide, must be let in for the glass to rest on 

 and to carry off" the water, sawing a piece out of each rafter, and filling the space 

 between the board and plate with l|-inch boarding fillets. British 16-ounce glass 

 answers, but 21-ounce thirds sheet is best for glazing, and the size 20 inches by 12 to 

 15 inches, placing it crosswise, bedded in good putty with -inch laps and secured with 

 sprigs. Top putty is not necessary, but the rafters must be primed before and well 

 painted after glazing, cutting the putty off level with the glass. On and outside the 

 back posts f -inch well-seasoned deal boards should be nailed, and also sliding shutters 

 in grooves 3 feet by 1 foot provided two close to the roof and two 18 inches from 



