APPENDIX. 117 



tuted for its perfect ventilating property. Hedges to 

 lean-to houses, as I know from experience, are too cold 

 to ripen peaches and nectarines, although highly fa- 

 vorable to the growth of the trees ; it therefore ap- 

 pears to me that the perforated bricks, now largely 

 manufactured, could be used with advantage in this 

 way. ' The wall, eight feet in height, should be built 

 five feet from the ground with common bricks ; and 

 then, three feet up to the top for the plate to rest on^ 

 with perforated bricks, placed edgewise. In very cold 

 weather in March, when the trees are in blossom, a 

 curtain of calico, or any other convenient material, 

 might be arranged so as to cover this space of the per- 

 forated wall at night, and in May it may be removed 

 for the summer. This perforated space, with the front 

 shutter constantly open, will, in my opiuion, be perfect 

 for a peach trellis, and not unsightly. , 



It will be seen, from what I have said that Mr. 

 "White's trellis differs from Mr. Ker's in this way — the 

 roof is fixed, and not of removable lights ; the trees 

 are pruned and the fruit is gathered from underneath, 

 so that all the operations of culture are performed un- 

 der shelter, and in a climate at all times favorable. 



Since the above was written, Mr. White has had his 

 fagot-wall removed, and glass placed at the back, at 

 a sharp angle of 30 degrees. Under this are trained 

 peaches and nectarines, which succeed those under the 

 front glass. The efiect is excellent ; and the trees, the 

 late warm summer (1858), ripened their fruit well, 

 although the slope is to the northeast. In cool seasons, 

 it is to be feared, the flavor of the fruit will suffer. 



The following letter, from a very clever amateur 



