CONSTRUCTION OF FRUIT HOUSES 



295 



or chilled with the increased distance between the glass and the leaves. The 

 wires themselves should be not more than 10 to 12 inches apart, and must be 

 supported below each rafter hy light iron bars. 



Early Vinery. — If for early forcing, a vinery 18 feet wide would require 

 liberal heating power. There should certainly be not less than about I foot of 

 4-inch pipe to every 25 cubic feet of space. This would give eight rows from 

 end to end, and they would be best placed six rows in front about 2 feet off the 

 front wall and two rows next the passage. In exposed situations a larger allow- 

 ance of pipe should be made — six rows at the front and four rows next the passage 

 would not be too much. It is the worst economy possible to have too little 

 heating power, as, when the low temperature comes, heavy firing and waste of 

 fuel will take place, and the saving of the capital cost of two rows of 4-inch pipes 



Fig. I. — Early (Lean-to) Vinery 

 (In Section) 



is soon swallowed up, not to speak of the trouble and anxiety when there are 20 

 or 30 degs. of frost. 



It need hardly be mentioned that where two or more houses are heated from 

 the same boiler provision must be made for heating every house separately. Fig. i 

 is a section of such a vinery as described. The main wall must be supported 

 on pillars and arched over, or, what is better still, the wall between the pillars 

 supported on light iron beams or plates. 



The Semi-Span Vinery, when the aspect is south or nearly south, is con- 

 sidered to be preferable to the lean-to. Especially is this the case with a late 

 house ; the morning and evening sun shining through the back roof is supposed 

 to aid the ripening and colouring very considerably. The late Mr, William 

 Thomson of Clovenfords held this view very strongly. The mode of constructing 



