208 



THE GARDENER'S ASSISTANT. 



as to give ample means of ventilation. Plums 

 and Apricots may be forced in the same house 

 with Cherries, or in a separate one of similar 

 construction. 



Fig-houses. — A narrow lean-to, with a flow and 

 return hot-water pipe, answers very well for 

 fig-trees trained against a wall. A span-roofed 

 house, such as that above mentioned for Cherries, 

 will be proper for the pot culture of this fruit; 

 or in such a house Fig-trees may be planted out 

 in a border having a chalky subsoil, either natural 

 or artificial. 



Strawberry -houses. — Fig. 269 is a represen- 

 tation of a structure designed by the late Mr. 

 Ingram, gardener at Belvoir Castle, for the 



—Ingram's Strawberry House. 



cultivation of Strawberries under glass. In 

 ordinary circumstances the plants have to be 

 forced on shelves in Vineries and other houses, 

 where it is oft'm difficult to secure the condi- 

 tions necessary for the perfection of the Straw- 

 berry crop, without injury to the legitimate 

 occupants of the house. It was to obviate this 

 difficulty that Mr. Ingram devised a structure 

 which affords every requisite for successfully 

 forcing the Strawberry. In it not only are the 

 plants kept near the glass, but the pots are shaded, 

 and the roots consequently kept cool, whilst air 

 can be freely admitted at all times. Mr. Ingram 

 states that he was led to the idea of constructing 

 his Strawberry-house in the form represented, 

 from observing that Strawberries always suc- 

 ceed well on shelves in the front of lean-to 

 houses close to where the roof-lights rest on 

 the front supporting plate, and where a little air 

 constantly enters, the pots being at the same 



time kept cool by the shade of the plate. This 

 of itself tends to keep the soil about the roots 

 moist, an important point in Strawberry forcing, 

 independently of other means which may be em- 

 ployed with the same object. The house figured 

 is 8 feet high at back, 5 feet wide at base, and 

 the front boards 15 inches high, but these dimen- 

 sions are not material to the principle of the 

 invention, as such houses may be made either 

 in the span-roofed or lean-to form, and when not 

 occupied by Strawberries they will be found well 

 adapted for growing many kinds of plants. 



Greenhouses and Conservatories. — In size and 

 form these are exceedingly variable. In many 

 cases they are constructed so as to harmonize 

 with the architectural style of the 

 mansion; but in others they are 

 merely useful unpretentious struc- 

 tures. Formerly they were built 

 with upright glass in front, no light 

 being admitted by the roof, back, or 

 ends, and even much of the frontage 

 was occupied with architecture too 

 massive to permit sufficient light to 

 reach the plants; but such as it was 

 the plants inclined towards it, and 

 as a consequence their growth be- 

 came what is termed one-sided. The 

 importance of light as an agent in 

 promoting vegetation has of late 

 years become better understood, and 

 great improvements have conse- 

 quently been made in the construc- 

 tion of greenhouses and conserva- 

 tories. 



The lean-to form (fig. 261) is very 

 generally adopted in the case of small green- 

 houses, advantage being taken of a wall already 

 built. In such houses plants may be grown very 

 well, but not so symmetrically as in span-roofed 

 structures, or others that admit light on all sides. 

 This, and means for the admission of plenty of 

 air, should be the aim in all greenhouses and 

 conservatories; and, keeping these requirements 

 in view, any form may be adopted that the 

 circumstances of the case may render pleasing 

 or convenient. 



A useful span-roofed house is represented in 

 fig. 262. By the addition of more hot-water pipes 

 than are here shown, this house would serve as 

 an intermediate house or stove. It is the form 

 of house preferred for the cultivation of the 

 larger orchids, such as Cattleyas. 



Fig. 270 (page 209) represents a conservatory 

 which is fairly well adapted for the growth of 

 plants, and, on the whole, is in good taste. 



