ORCHARD-HOUSES. 5 



house would be safe from frost, when those in one 

 14 feet wide might be in danger. 



If a house be more than 30 feet, it must have a 

 ridge-and-furrow roof, which, though necessary 

 when large spaces have to be covered, is more 

 expensive and much heavier in appearance. To 

 grow fruit of fine flavour, light is the great requi- 

 site ; and that the sun should shine as equally as 

 possible on both sides, it is desirable that your 

 house be span-roofed, if possible, having one end 

 towards the south. The Peach, like the Geranium, 

 is attacked by the green smother fly or aphis ; if 

 you have to smoke a badly-constructed house, you 

 will wish it better built, and in a very cold spring 

 the advantages of close-shutting windows must be 

 acknowledged. An orchard-house should be built 

 so that it could be turned into a vinery, green- 

 house, or hothouse, if at any time it might be de- 

 sired to do so ; and I have no hesitation in saying 

 the span-roof is the best form for either the growth 

 of Vines or plants. Vines, in a lean-to house of 

 any height, require a ladder to prune or gather 

 the fruit, and there is always a tendency to pro- 

 duce the finest foliage and fruit on the upper part 

 of the rods; whilst, by being trained across a 



