194 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, December 28, 1858. 
so, in comparison, appear lateral short-jointed spurs, as 
compared with the young aDd terminal points, where the 
sap acts with all its force. The only way in which I can 
account for this is, that the elaboration is more complete in 
the spurs than in the rapid growing points of young shoots : 
for rapid growth is frequently against the elaborative, or 
assimilative process, or otherwise grievously retards it. 
I have trees which have been thus treated this last sum¬ 
mer, and they are clothed with numberless spurs, and to 
such an extent, that if every young shoot was pruned 
close back, I could ensure a crop of fruit. 
I may as well offer a few observations on Peach forcing. 
Here, again, thorough cleanliness is necessary during the 
whole process. The house having this point secured, and 
the trees thoroughly dressed, according to former advice, 
what is called forcing may commence. Now, this com¬ 
mencement with the Peach must be very gradual indeed. 
Some persons little imagine what hidden processes are 
going on in the interior of the blossom-bud before it 
unfolds, which processes are necessarily the work of 
some time, if perfect blossoms are to be expected. And 
here I may observe, that much air moisture is necessary 
during this period. Where opportunity occurs, it is ex¬ 
cellent practice to use fermenting materials inside the 
house. This I practice annually, and it is of much service. 
There can be no doubt that the gases arising from such 
manurial bodies impart benefits to the trees, which the 
vapour of mere water does not possess. I believe that a 
low night temperature is highly beneficial to the Peach. 
I have had a Peach-house with the fruit larger than big 
Peas, ranging from 35° to 40° on many nights, whilst a 
solar heat of 75° to 85° was encouraged towards noon 
and afternoon. They require a liberal day heat up to the 
stoning process,—say, from 65° to 75°; after that, caution 
must be exercised; hurry would not avail then, as the 
fruits, under whatever temperature, would stand still, as 
to growth, for a month or more. During all this time the 
lateral spray will require weekly attention ; and here I 
recommend the pinching before advocated in this paper. 
Another point of importance, is root watering. If the 
soil is properly constituted, a good deal of water will be 
required; of course, in proportion to the advancing 
heat, and the wants of the tree. Whilst the fruits are 
swelling, liquid manure is of the utmost importance, and 
both this and other water applications may be given at a 
temperature of 90°. E. Eekington. 
MOVEABLE HOUSES—WOOD-SIDED HOUSES 
-SUNK HOUSES — COVEEING- FOECING 
BOEDEES. 
Moveable Houses. —It is always a pleasant thing to 
get a squeeze of the hand from our friend Mr. Beaton ; 
but a person would require to put a wire guard over his 
lips, if he thought for a moment that his friend was not 
only taking notes, but would “ print them.” After what 
appeared from the Ecv. E. E. Eobinson (page 118), any¬ 
thing I could advance would be more in the way of mi¬ 
nutiae, than of principle. I recollect saying to our friend, 
“ Why not build your house on blocks, laid on, not in 
the ground.” If these could be sunk half-way in the 
soil, it would be as well; but that I am somewhat doubtful 
about, if it came into the hands of the lawyers. Hence, 
wherever practicable, it would be best to have a written 
agreement with the landlord, before going to any extent 
in raising glass houses. There can be no doubt that a 
tenant might raise an orchard house, or a small green¬ 
house, on blocks, with perfect safety and security to 
himself, because any little heat that these might require 
might be communicated by a portable stove of some kind. 
If for forcing houses, &c., he has to sink into the ground, 
and use walls of brick, for stock-holes, setting boilers, 
&c., it is very questionable if he can touch such boilers 
afterwards—nay, more, if he falls in with a litigious land¬ 
lord, he might get into trouble for making such a hole at 
all, or leaving such bricks and iron to annoy him. I once 
heard of a case, where removing such brickwork, &c., in 
order that be ground might be made as it was before, 
was made involve the labour of a fortnight, though a 
day or t mid have been sufficient, and threats were 
made foi . cages for annoyance besides. The law might 
prevent anything like glaring injustice; but having re¬ 
course to it at all would be sure to bring loss to the 
winning party. Unless, then, for houses requiring but 
little artificial heat, I should not like to build them with¬ 
out a previous arrangement with the landlord. 
For such a moveahle house, instead of laying the sill 
on the ground, I should prefer building it on blocks, and 
thus preserve the sill from decay ; and, by the position 
of the blocks, secure the house from straining ; and, at 
the same time, nearly entirely dispense with bracing and 
tying inside. For a span-house, forty feet long, fifteen 
feet wide, and ten feet in height to the centre,—I would 
first level and ram the ground where the blocks would be 
placed; then place four on each side,—say, each three 
feet in length, and eight to ten inches square,—formed of 
Oak, or Memel timber. These blocks—one at each corner, 
and two between, on each side—would be placed at right 
angles with the foundation sill. Thus, if the sill pointed 
east and west, the blocks would be north and south. One 
block more, twb feet in length, might be placed in the 
centre of each end. On the centre of these blocks, the 
foundation sill, all round, should be secured with bolts ; 
the blocks round the sides should be about thirteen feet 
apart; a board, fastened with screws, would go from the 
sill to the ground; and this, and the lower side of the 
blocks, would be the only parts more liable to decay than 
in a brick-walled building. For ventilating purposes, 
two ridge boards will be required, which, in addition to 
being supported at the ends, will be the better for two 
supports each along the centre. Four more blocks would 
be required for this ; but, instead of that, it would be 
better to make the two blocks, in the middle of each side, 
seven feet long, instead of three, for receiving the sill, 
near one end, and a post, or strong iron rod, to the ridge 
board at the other end. On the sill, fix studs of any de¬ 
sired height, for receiving the wall plate; to that wall 
plate, the sashes may be screwed at one end, and the 
other end be screwed to the ridge board. A thin, bevelled 
piece of wood, three quarters of an inch in width, screwed 
over the junction of the sashes, will prevent all wet- 
getting in there. I am supposing that sashes are used; 
in order to admit of being moved easily, four feet wide 
is as good a size as any. The sides of the sashes, as 
commonly made, would be strong enough for that width. 
But, to make extra sure, in case of heavy snowfalls, it 
would be desirable to have an iron bar (half an inch in 
thickness, and three quarters of an inch in width) going 
along longitudinally on each side of the houses, near the 
middle of the sashes, fixed to a stout stud at each end, 
and kept up by a brace from each of the centre posts 
that supported the ridge boards. The double ridge 
boards are to permit of ventilation being given between 
them ; and, therefore, that space should be from twelve 
to fifteen inches in width. Stout cross pieces (four feet 
apart), placed between these ridge boards, will alike 
enable you to form from these a cowl coping,—which will 
throw off what water falls on to the glass,—and yet leave 
six inches, or more, between the coping board and the 
top of the ridge boards communicating with the open 
cavity between them. That cavity may be open, or shut, 
at pleasure, by having boards of the necessary height 
pivot-hung between each two of these cross pieces. Ven¬ 
tilation at the sides, and by the doorways, may also be 
secured. 
The sides and ends may be made to suit circumstances 
and convenience. It would be desirable to have them in 
lengths that would be easily manageable. If the sides 
were not above three, or three and a half, feet in height, 
