FRAMES AND GLASS-HOUSES. 1\ 



The orchard-house is no protection against frost in winter, as it 

 freezes as sharply in the house as it does out of doors ; and it is to 

 be particularly observed that, as the trees do not get a covering of 

 snow, the roots in pots of only half-an-inch in thickness, are liable to 

 be more injured than if the trees were planted in the open ground. 



An orchard-house should be constructed so strongly as to resist 

 great gales ; otherwise the uprights and roof might be arranged much 

 in the same way as a barn. My form is convenient, but perhaps 

 would be better if each portion of glass were a little longer, say eight 

 feet instead of seven. 



The orchard-house is essentially the device of Rivers, who deserves 

 the thanks of pomologists not only for its invention, but also for the 

 zeal with which he has enforced its use. Various plans are adopted 

 for its design. Rivers uses a simple double span with wooden sides, 

 and certainly this is best adapted for his own use, where numerous 

 trees are grown for sale. I rather incline to the common design of 

 a country shed with glass roof, as thus it is made of great strength. 

 My own house is a span glass roof supported on pillars, with glass 

 sides shelving from it. The glass of the span is seven feet long, 

 and each side is seven feet, so that there are twenty-eight feet of 

 glass from side to side. The doorway is 6 ft. 6 in. high. Perhaps 

 thirty-two feet of glass would make a more perfect house on this 

 plan. Ventilation is secured by opening the door, by opening win- 

 dows over the door, by opening a board upon a hinge extending under 

 the glass through the whole length of the building on either side, and 

 by opening one or two panes of glass along the roof. 



At the end of the orchard-house there is a glass span-roofed shed, 

 which is used from early spring till autumn for flowering plants and 

 ferns; and no structure can answer better, or show more beautiful 

 flowers, than this house during that period. Here lilies, fuchsias, 

 geraniums, azaleas, and similar flowers flourish. There is no heating 

 apparatus attached to the orchard-house, as these large glass sheds 

 would be most expensive to warm. I have been able to keep out 

 frost, ho\vcver, from the glass shed at the end of the orchard-house, 



