226 PROPER SEASONS AND METHODS 



rise more upright at the front and towards the 

 middle more gradual, and along the top nearly 

 flat, the height at the back not being more than 

 from three and a half or four feet, unless the 

 house is very lofty ; in this way the trees will 

 bear exceedingly well, and the fruit become very 

 fine, and also during the time of ripening, the 

 fruit is easily prevented from falling to the ground 

 by placing a net underneath. The house thus 

 planted may be forced by fire heat in the usual 

 way, with flues if preferred ; but in this case I 

 should decidedly prefer hot w r ater, both for con- 

 venience and appearance, as the pipe with 

 returns may be ranged along the centre under 

 the frame-work, and will scarcely be perceptible 

 to the casual observer, and also along near the 

 front glasses, where if a frame is made between 

 the foot-path and the sashes for the forwarding 

 of flowers, French beans, strawberries, or what 

 might be required, the pipes would be also 

 nearly concealed underneath. If vines are intro- 

 duced, they may be planted either inside the 

 house or on the outside, and admitted through 

 an aperture made for the purpose ; also many 



