GENERAL REMARKS. 105 



and 9| feet in height to the ridge; the paths are 2^ feet 

 wide ; the back beds at the sides arc 4 feet wide and 15 

 inches high ; the central bed 7 feet wide and 18 inches high ; 

 these dimensions may of course be varied at the pleasure of 

 the builder. I give mine exactly as they are. The posts to 

 support the side plates are of oak, 6 inches by 4 ; they are 

 2J feet in the ground, and placed 4 feet apart ; on these are 

 nailed deal boards, three-quarters of an incli thick, tlie upper 

 part of which, on one side, one foot in width, is on hinges, to 

 form shutters for ventilation ; the rafters are 4^ inches by IJ, 

 and placed twenty inches apart." 



This house, as will be seen, has two walks, and three beds 

 on which to place the pots; there is no top ventilation, which 

 Mr. Rivers says lie has found unnecessary. When there is no 

 fire heat, the rafters are fixed, and the glass 20 inches wide 

 by fifteen long. Yet Mr. Rivers considers this the most eco- 

 nomical method of building large span-roofed houses. 



The dimensions of another large house he gives as follows : 

 "The sides are brick walls, 2 feet 6 inches high; on these, 

 sashes 2 feet 6 inches by 3 are fixed, with pivots so as to 

 admit a large quantity of air; width twenty feet; length 

 ninety feet; height (in centre) ten feet." This he calls a 

 noble specimen of a nobleman's orchard house. 



For all general purposes, however, a simple span-roofed 

 house, with level ground floor, answers every object ; the 

 raised brick beds being, in our opinion, in our climate, of 

 no great advantage to the trees, especially if they are to be, 

 as we should advise, removed to the open air to mature their 

 crop. If, however, the pots are to bo plunged in tlie earth, a 

 brick edging would certainly add to the neatness and beauty 

 of the house. 



But whether the style be a lean-to or a span-roof, ample 

 ventilation in our climate must be secured. The sides 

 should be provided with shutters or sashes, that may be 

 opened when required, and top ventilation must also be am- 

 ple. In spring, and during the time the trees are swelling 

 their fruit, side air should rarely be given, as most of the ven- 



