28 ORCHARD-HOUSES. 



any, danger from frost; but in our changeable 

 climate, it is difficult to foresee what may happen. 

 In 1859, I think, a frost of very great severity 

 occurred whilst Peaches were in full bloom. The 

 house in which our fruiting plants were growing 

 (the first erected here) has wooden sides, and 

 spaces between the boards; one end is also of 

 wood. I now think it not only ugly, but a very 

 imperfect protection ; yet we Jiave never failed to 

 raise a crop in it every season. But the morning 

 after the frost alluded to occurred, no one, on 

 entering the house, would have given much for 

 the chances of a crop. The trees had a very 

 wretched appearance; but after being syringed 

 with cold water before sunrise (on the same prin- 

 ciple that dictates rubbing a frozen nose with 

 snow), they were none the worse for what had 

 happened. 



Having given these few plain directions for the 

 management of orchard-house trees, some opinion 

 may perhaps be expected as to the relative advan- 

 tages of pot culture, and planting the trees in the 

 open borders of the house. I am trying both 

 plans, and at present give the preference to pots. 

 The Peach tree is so easily fed by manure water, 



