212 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
[ September, 
atmospheres. These structures have also perfect portability. The iron stan¬ 
dards are fixed into blocks of stone or concrete; they have a recess or chasing 
into which the concrete or terra-cotta slabs, which form the walls of the houses, 
fit with perfect ease, and can be removed at any time, and consequently no brick¬ 
work or masonry is required. The shelves or stages for the plants to stand upon 
are formed of the same material, and thus the cost and annoyance of wooden 
stages are done away with. 
As to the reduction of material and cost of maintenance, the houses are 
formed on an ironwork skeleton, the parts of which are the standard or 
mounting, the spandfil or head-piece, and the rafters of T-iron connecting 
the two together, and forming a span ; they may be called the principals, 
and are connected and tied together by light recessed purlins, which receive the 
ends of the squares of glass, the latter being held in its place perfectly tight by 
metallic clips, which pass through the purlins and fasten with a pin. These, 
with the front and lower ventilators, complete the house, so that it will be seen 
View of Plant House. 
that it presents but a small surface requiring to be painted. The accompanying 
sketches of a Plant Stove and Orchard House show the general character of these 
structures, which have no perpendicular glass, the sides being on the slope, in order 
that in the dark months of winter the direct light may not be refracted, but 
transmitted to the interior. Ventilation is effected through side panels, which 
admit the cold air in contact with the heating and evaporating troughs, through 
the side lights, which open simultaneously, and through movable sashes in the 
louvre box. These houses are manufactured by the Imperishable Hothouse 
Company, whose works are at Newark-on-Trent. 
For Orchard Houses, Mr. Ayres proposes to substitute a trellis for bush trees. 
“ Orchard Houses,” he remarks, u have become a regular garden institution, and 
as from the fickleness of our climate the demand for them appears likely to in¬ 
crease, it is desirable that we should leave the region of toy, and take our stand 
upon the ground of solid cultivation. Pot fruit trees are all very well, indeed 
they are admirable, as managed by s ome cultivators ; but taken upon the average. 
