198 
THE FLORIST. 
pleasure by a series of elbow joints connected to the caps, and worked 
by a connecting rod running the length of each ridge, and attached to a 
brace movement placed at the back of the house, by which apparatus 
the whole of the caps are raised and lowered simultaneously. By this 
ingenious contrivance the great objection to the use of ridge and furrow 
roofs is removed. Ample space for the escape of over heated air is pro¬ 
vided during the hottest days, and by adjusting the openings to the state 
of the weather a uniform circulation can be obtained at all times, and 
the most extensive roofs ventilated in a manner much superior (as regards 
the uniform escape and admission of air over the surface of the roof) to 
the best plans we have seen practised with lean-to houses. Mr. Fleming 
speaks very highly of this plan in a more recent letter, detailing its 
satisfactory working during the late hot weather. 
It has been our aim in these papers to deal only with general 
principles in bringing the construction of fruit houses before our readers. 
The details of sash making, glazing, heating, and ventilating will follow, 
as applicable to every mode of erection. That improvement is 
wanted in the construction, ventilation, and heating of garden buildings 
is evident. What is wanted are not expensive structures—expensive 
to erect in the first place, and to keep up afterwards, but something 
cheap and durable. Glass and iron are all but indestructible, and we 
think that iron may be so manufactured as not to require paint, and 
that putty may be altogether dispensed with, in which case, and with sets 
of castings made to a uniform pattern, so that they could be procurable 
anywhere, and in any quantities, houses simple in construction, and 
formed of parts which could be put together or taken to pieces by an 
ordinary labourer, might be erected at a great saving both as regards 
first cost and after repairs, and which could be removed at pleasure. 
The absurd laws relating to the removal of property of this description 
prevent very many yearly tenants from availing themselves of the 
luxury of a greenhouse or orchard house, as, should they leave their 
occupancy, they would incur an expense to benefit another party ; but 
once let us establish portable houses, and we should find a rapid increase 
in their erection. 
We anticipate these cursory remarks will be followed up by some 
interesting communications on details bearing on this subject by a 
valuable correspondent who has long paid attention to this subject, and 
who we hope will favour us with the results of his experiments. 
Most galvanised iron that we have used rusts after a few years. 
THE ROYAL NATIONAL TULIP SOCIETY’S EXHIBITION. 
Doubtless you will receive from some of your numerous corre¬ 
spondents a “ full and true account ” of the names of the successful 
candidates, and also of the winning flowers at the recent exhibition of 
the Royal National Tulip Society, at Sheffield; but there are two or 
three matters, in connection with the show, on which I should like to 
make a few observations. First, I think great praise is due to Mr. 
Bagshaw, the hon. secretary, (who, I understand, had many difficulties 
