344 



FRUIT-HOUSES. 



est exposure to the light and air, except they produce; for while the soil imme- 

 during the hottest and brightest sun- diately over where the water enters the 

 shine, at which times slight shading may tanks is too hot for the health of the 

 be applied. plants, that over the part where the water 



The span roof is approved of by Mr re-enters the boiler is as much too cold." 

 Fleming of Trentham, one of our most This, however, we have not found to be 

 successful pine cultivators. He, how- the case. "It has been suggested," he 

 ever, constructs his roofs slightly different continues, " by some, that the heat from 

 from those in ordinary use, and thus rea- the close pipes would be too drying, 

 sons on the subject in a communication This, however, is not the case — as a proof 

 in The Gardeners' Chronicle:— "The span- of which we find, when removing the 

 shaped roof is the best for obtaining an soil, roots in perfect health within a few 

 abundant supply of light, which is so inches of the pipes." Mr Fleming objects 

 essential to success; but instead of hav- to tanks and gutters on the following 

 ing the ridge over the centre of the pit grounds, and finds them an injury 

 according to the general construction, I rather than a benefit, "as the moisture 

 prefer placing it about one-third of the arising from the tanks is condensed in 

 pit's breadth from the back wall, as, by the soil, and by degrees the latter be- 

 this arrangement, it forms no obstruction comes so saturated that in a few months' 

 to the direct rays of the sun falling upon time it is totally unfit for the healthy de- 

 all the plants. With respect to the width velopment of the roots." The pipes at 

 of pits, ours," says Mr Fleming, " are Trentham, (vide section,) " are laid on a 

 like that shown in the section, fig. 463 ; bed of ashes or gravel about 18 inches 



below the surface of 

 the soil; and over 

 the pipes is a ridge 

 of gravel, the crown 

 of which is 12 inches 

 from the surface. 

 The intervals be- 

 tween should be fill- 

 ed with oak leaves to 

 the same level, thus 

 leaving 12 inches 

 of soil." It will be 

 seen by the section 

 that Mr Fleming 



but it would be no disadvantage to con- grows his plants very close to the glass, 

 struct them a few feet wider, as the the surface of the soil being only 18 

 amount of light which enters the pit is so inches below the level of the wall-plates, 

 much greater in proportion to the dis- He depends greatly on ventilation, and 

 tance between the side walls." His pits gives it as his opinion that this is one of 

 are 12 feet wide in the clear. Mr Flem- the most important points to be attended 

 ing also prefers the circulation of the to. "By allowing a constant and free 

 heated water to be carried on in pipes circulation of air to traverse through the 

 instead of tanks, considering this both pits, and taking due care to make it pass 

 more efficient and economical. " It is over the surface of the hot- water pipes 

 not necessary," he says, " to go any length immediately on its entering, the plants 

 into the arguments on the subject, but it will not grow nearly so large as they are 

 will be sufficient to state that the water generally seen under the ordinary modes 

 flows more freely in pipes than in tanks of cultivation ; but, as the sap is more 

 or gutters, and consequently the heat is highly concentrated, the strength and 

 kept up with less labour and a much vigour of these small plants is very supe- 

 smaller expenditure of fuel. In addition rior to the large rambling ones which are 

 to this, tanks are much more expensive grown in a closer atmosphere, and whose 

 in their first construction, and are objec- leaves can scarcely support their own 

 tionable from the irregularity of the heat weight." 



