146 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



bricks), or an aperture covered outside and inside with perforated 

 zinc, should be provided just above the ground line. If the room 

 is to be over 20 feet long an extra foundation should be put in 

 at the half distance. , 



Main Posts.— Make these 6 feet long, 6 inches square, and pre- 

 pare a hole in the foot to receive the dowel mentioned in the last 

 paragraph ; this will keep the framework firm. The main ground 

 plate should be 4^ by 3, and the top plate of the same size. 

 Support and steady these in the usual way with quartering 4| 

 by 3, and when this is fixed, choose a dry day and pitch, tar, or 

 cold creosote the lower plates and all the woodwork 2 feet up 

 from the ground, to protect from damp. The quartering should 

 show an even outside face. 



Outside Covering.— The cheapest material will be f match- 

 board, and it may as well be fixed on the rafters also. Pitch- 

 board 4^ by 1, rafters 3 by 2. 



Bonds from one side to the other should be 4$ by 3 ; if stout 

 they are useful to hold planks, on which baskets can be placed 

 overhead in the roof. In order to receive the outside thatch, a 

 side board is attached 6 inches wide from the ground to the roof, 

 in which the thatch is placed upright, and it is kept m position by 

 lateral splines of wood 3 by 1/ which are shown in the figure. 



The Thatch may be 18 inches thick on the roof, and 6 inches 

 at the sides. Where it can be procured, carex or reed is the 

 strongest and most lasting, but it may be of wheat straw or 

 of heather. 



Doors.— An inside and outside door should be provided, and 

 they must be made to fit closely, to exclude draughts. 



Windows.— Id. order that visitors may fully inspect the fruit, 

 windows of 21 oz. glass maybe inserted, and this saves the use 

 of a candle at storing time, but outside shutters are provided to 

 keep the room as dark as possible; but a fruit-room is perhaps 

 really better without any windows at all. 



Ventilation should be provided by an opening under the apex 

 of roof at each end, 1 by 9, a small opening being left between the 

 dairy shutters, which can be stopped by hay or moss in severe 

 weather; the inside should be protected by perforated zinc, fine 

 enough to keep out wasps and flies. 



Thieves and Bats.— It has been suggested that, in order to 

 protect the contents, a half-inch stout wire netting should be 



