CHAPTER VI. 



FRUIT-HOUSES. 



§ 1. — VINERIES. 



In the construction of vineries, there is 

 greater scope for indulging in variety of 

 form, size, and circumstances, than in 

 any other fruit-tree structure. That there 

 is, however, a right and a wrong mode 

 of construction, is undeniable. The vine, 

 from its proverbial docility, submits to a 

 greater degree of ill-usage, and often with 

 apparent impunity, than any other fruit- 

 bearing tree in artificial cultivation. It 

 admits of being forced into fruit at the 

 earliest period of the year; and it may 

 be retarded to the latest. Under these 

 circumstances, structure has a good deal 

 to do in insuring success in either case. 



The narrow and steep-roofed houses 

 used generally on the Continent are, no 

 doubt, the type of proper structures for 

 early forcing, because they are easily 

 managed, particularly as regards heating; 

 and from the high angle of their roofs, 

 the vines derive all the benefits, both of 

 light and solar heat, that our northern 

 latitude affords during the short days of 

 winter. The vinery in use very generally 

 on the Continent varies from 25 to 30 

 feet in length, and from 10 to 12 feet 

 high, placed at an angle of 15° to the 

 perpendicular, or about 5 feet wide at 

 the bottom, and 3 feet at the top. They 

 are almost universally heated by smoke 

 flues, although frequently with hot dung, 

 or both combined. The vines are planted 

 inside, and trained to the back wall, but 

 not very close to it, and sometimes 

 parallel to the glass, and also at a little 

 distance from it, to avoid danger from 

 frost. The upper portion of the roof 

 falling towards the back wall is often of 

 boarding, and projects a little over at 



front — a precaution necessary to protect 

 the glass from hail-storms, which are 

 more frequent abroad than with us. 



As an improvement on the above, when 

 intended for early forcing, we would sug- 

 gest (fig. 402) a curvilinear-roofed house, 



Fig. 402. 



ventilated in front and back by venti- 

 lators a a, and heated by hot-water pipes 

 b, placed near to the front, as well as by 

 carrying the smoke and heat which pass 

 the boiler along a flue in the back wall c, 

 which, being built hollow, will allow the 

 heat to diffuse itself from bottom to top. 

 The vines may either be planted along 

 the front at d, or at the back at e. The 

 foundations being carried up solid, the 

 roots would be prevented from reaching 

 the cold border without, which is of vast 

 importance to vines early excited, and 



