CONSTRUCTION OF FRUIT HOUSES 



299 



nat^ay 



Fig. 7. — Lean-to Strawberry House 

 (In Section) 



The remarks made in connection with the heating of vineries apply with 



equal force here. There should be no attempt made to economise at the expense 



of the heating surface. A 1 3-feet melon-house should have four rows of pipes 



below each bed for bottom heat, 



four rows below the pathway, "^ 



which should be of grating, and 



one row each side, for top heat, 



beneath the ventilator. There 



should also be ventilators in the 



bed walls and openings through 



the bed itself close to the front, 



to allow the heated air below 



the bed to escape. All the 



various circulations of pipes 



should have controlling valves 



for regulating or cutting off the 



heat when required. The wire 



trellis on each side need not 



extend beyond the doorpost, and 



should be about 10 or 12 inches 



from the glass. Such a house 



as has just been described is 



excellently suited for the growing of melons, cucumbers, tomatoes, and for 



general forcing purposes. 



For Early Strawberries either the lean-to or span shape will do equally 



well, the main requirements being shelves as close to the glass as may be 



practicable, and easy facili- 

 ties for watering. Figs. 7 

 and 8 are sections of lean- 

 to and span strawberry- 

 houses. 



Pineapple Stove. — 

 For some time the culti- 

 vation of the pineapple 

 under glass has gone down 

 very much, probably owing 

 to the introduction of the 

 cheap foreign article, and 

 it is only in a compara- 

 tively limited number of 

 gardens that the cost of 

 fuel necessary to maintain 

 the high temperature re- 

 quired is considered well repaid by the possession of the finer home-grown 



fruits. The maintenance of a temperature of about 70 degs., with perhaps 



20 degs. of frost outside, requires great heating power, and a construction with 



Fig. 8. — Span-Roof Strawberry House 

 (In Section) 



