56 Economising of Surfaces under Glass. 



it, at least until the severe weather of winter and spring is past. 

 The expense of these arrangements will not be much more than 

 that of the pipes ; as, under any circumstances of a well-formed 

 border, the drains must necessarily be made. 



Besides the application of the above principle to vine borders, 

 I am not sure whether it may not yet be found an important 

 auxiliary in the cultivation of the peach, nectarine, apricot, and 

 even pear, against walls, in cold northerly parts of the country ; 

 for I am disposed to think that the ripening of the wood, and 

 the production of flower or fruit buds, depend much more upon 

 the management of the root, as regards temperature, than we 

 have been in the habit of conceiving. 



VII. Forcing StrWdoherries. A front shelf, level with the 

 bottom of the wall plate above the ventilators, and over the front 

 pipes, is intended for the forcing of early strawberries. Light and 

 air being so essential towards their successful growth, in this 

 situation they will have an ample supply of both. 



VIII. Forcing Shrubs. The front and back kerbs of the pine 

 pit will afford space for lines of roses, kalmias, rhododendrons, 

 &c., to be brought in early, either for the greenhouse or drawing- 

 room. 



To conclude : I offer a few words upon ventilation, in con- 

 nexion with metal houses; also my opinion as to the compara- 

 tive merits of metal and wood, in the construction of hothouses. 

 I conceive, from most I have seen in the way of metal houses, 

 that they have suffered much, in point of character, from the 

 want of sufficient means of ventilation; bearing in mind the 

 greatly increased medium for the reception of the solar rays, by 

 the curvilinear form of roof, as well as its much increased sur- 

 face for light, compared with the oblique roof of the wooden 

 house with its heavy shadowy rafters. Taking, I say, these 

 circumstances into consideration, I am only surprised that the 

 damage arising from a defective means of ventilation has not 

 been even greater than what I have witnessed. This, however, 

 is not the fault, it has merely been the misfortune, of the metal 

 house. By the introduction of the semicurvilinear bar, a facility 

 is afforded for ample ventilation, by means of square sliding 

 sashes in the upper part of the roof, which is made straight on 

 purpose. 



Comparing metallic houses with wooden ones, in point of adap- 

 tation for this country and general elegance, I decidedly prefer 

 the former ; but where economy becomes any material conside- 

 ration, then I would say adopt the wooden house. V^ith respect 

 to heating, in either case let it be by hot water. 



I consider it due to the parties who executed the work of the 

 house described, and who are now extensively engaged in similar 

 erections in other parts of Ireland, to state, that they have not 



