200 On Constructing a Peach-house. 



that I now recommend for a Peach-house, is in diame- 

 trical opposition to the theory and opinions of Mr. Wil- 

 kinson. 



Mr. Wilkinson's first position is, that " we want the ge- 

 nial warmth of the sun most in the spring he thinks about 

 the 6th of April* The fires in a Vinery rarely are, and 

 never ought to be, lighted before the middle of February ; 

 and the application of heat ought then to be slow and gra- 

 dual. The leaves will consequently be young and tender 

 in the beginning of April, and will be very ill calculated to 

 be suddenly exposed, as they often must be, by the removal 

 of intervening clouds, during the rapid variations of wea- 

 ther, and of temperature, in the end of March, and the be- 

 ginning of April, to the full influence of the sun, falling 

 vertically upon the glass. The wind is also often so cold, 

 when the sun shines very brightly, at that season of the 

 year, that much air cannot always be admitted without 

 injury to those plants, with which it first comes into con- 

 tact; and therefore, if very great attention be not paid 

 by the gardener, the tender leaves and young shoots of the 

 Vines will be often injured; and indeed, the young leaves 

 and shoots sometimes fade much in my house, during hot 

 days in the beginning of April, though the light does not 

 fall vertically on the roof before the 20th of May. But 

 waving wholly this objection, the stimulus of more light, 



* Theoretical writers on vegetation are extremely apt to transfer some of 

 the habits and feelings of animal life to plants ; whence have arisen the fre- 

 quent recommendations of poor soils, and cold situations, for nurseries; the 

 writers feeling how agreeable it is to go from worse to better, and how disagree- 

 able the contrary. 



