318 



FRUIT-HOUSES. 



vided with air-tight doors at each end 

 externally. 



Fig. 432 is a section of a span-roofed 

 vinery, which differs from the last inas- 



Fig. 432. 



much as the roof is a fixture, without 

 rafters or sashes. Ventilation is effected 

 by opening the side sashes, and no other 

 part of the roof is movable — the top ven- 

 tilation being in the ridge, as in the last 

 example. The vines, also, are planted 

 within the house, to preserve their roots 

 from cold in spring, and too much damp 

 in winter. The hot-water pipes are 

 placed in an open flue, the sides next the 

 border, within the house, being built in 

 the open, or pigeon-hole, manner, to 

 enable a portion of the heat to find its 

 way to their roots. A species of under- 

 ground ventilation is here also exhibited : 

 drains laid without mortar, or large drain 

 tiles, are carried through the internal 

 border, communicating at both ends with 

 the open flues in which the pipes are 

 laid, and opening into the house at a a a. 

 These are placed at every six feet. Be- 

 tween them the vines are planted, and the 

 border rises slightly towards the centre. 

 The advantage of this mode of ventilation 

 must be apparent, as it is seldom that the 

 side sashes will require to be opened, 

 therefore cold air will be prevented from 

 reaching the early vines ; while the late 

 crops will remain longer in perfection, 

 as a constant current of air is passing 

 through the house, deprived of extra 

 humidity by passing through the under- 

 ground pipes, which will absorb it in its 

 passage through them. Again, when the 

 vines are in a state of growth, and a 

 humid atmosphere is required, this also 

 can be produced by placing evaporating 

 pans on the upper pipes, or, better still, 

 by rendering the bottom of the open 

 flue in which they are placed waterproof 



as high as half the diameter of the lower 

 pipe ; into which water can be led by a 

 small pipe connected with the cistern. 

 The trellis shown is 15 inches from the 

 glass. The vines are planted under the 

 footpaths, which are portable cast-iron 

 gratings, through the openings of which 

 the air, light, and water will find their 

 way to the border in which the roots are. 

 The stems of the vines may be tied 

 to- iron rods, at least until they attain a 

 sufficient size to secure themselves from 

 accident. The ventilating tubes, where 

 they pass between the hot-water pipes, 

 have openings on their upper sides to 

 allow the air to rise directly to the bottom 

 part of the roof. Any or all of these 

 may be stopped, if desired, by having 

 stoppers provided for them. Here, as in 

 the last example, there is an open area with 

 a hinged cover passing along both sides of 

 the house without, and close to the para- 

 pet wall— the intention of which is to ad- 

 mit air to the air-drains within the house. 

 These covers may be of wood or iron, 

 laid on a basement of ashlar, or on a 

 frame of cast-iron. As the situation of 

 the house is, like the last, on a gravel 

 space, free access can be got all round to 

 open or shut the covers of these open 

 areas, when required. 



Fig. 433 is the elevation of a curvi- 

 linear house adapted to the same use and 



Fig. 433. 



situation as the last. We have endea- 

 voured here to show what in practice is 

 quite attainable, although, so far as we 

 are aware, it has not been exhibited 

 before, namely, a curvilinear house partly 

 of wood and partly of iron. From the 

 plinth or base, which is presumed to be 

 of stone, the metallic astragals rise in a 

 curved direction, and are united to the 

 iron bar a, which extends the whole 

 length of the house, and is itself supported 

 by cast or wrought iron pillars rising 

 from the floor. To this iron bar the 

 wooden astragals, which form the upper 



