Woodward's Graperies and Horticultural Buildings

by George E. Woodward; F. W. Woodward

The sill or wall plate of the Grapery, is but two feet above the border; thus giving nearly the whole length of cane for fruiting upon the rafter. Side lights are dispensed with bottom ventilation being afforded by apertures through the brick wall, closed by shutters. The wall is supported on stone lintels, resting on brick piers placed about five feet apart, extending to the bottom of the border, allowing free access for the vine roots to the outside. Ventilation at the top is effected by means of sashes, hung in the roof at the ridge, which are raised and lowered by an iron shaft running the length of the building, with elbow attachments at each ventilator. A cord and lever at one end, works the shaft, raising the whole of the ventilators at one operation. This is by far the best method of ventilation, but more expensive than that generally used. It is strong, effective, rarely requires repair, and the sashes are never in danger of being blown open and broken by high winds. The floor level of the Green-house is two feet below that of the Grapery, in order that there may be sufficient height at the sides, to place plants on the tables, and bring them near the glass. General collections of plants cannot well be grown in one house; for this reason, we have the house divided by a glass partition. By an arrangement of valves in the hot water pipes, and independent ventilation, a different temperature can be maintained in each. Plants requiring a considerable degree of heat will find a congenial location in the central house, while those in bloom, and others to which a cooler atmosphere is more suitable, will be placed at the circular end of the building.

Three rows of heating pipe run around the Green-houses, which will give ample heat in the coldest weather. A propagating table is provided by enclosing a portion of the pipes in the central house. Beneath the floor is a cistern of 3,000 gallons capacity, from which tanks holding 100 gallons each are supplied by pumps. The Green-houses are entered through a door and porch on the south, not shown in the engraving, also through potting room and Grapery. The design of these houses gives an opportunity for further addition if desired, by a wing on the south, corresponding with the Grapery on the north. Such an extension would improve the architectural appearance of the whole. An early Grapery might be thus located and be heated from the same boiler. These houses, lately designed and erected by us for John L. Rogers, Esq., of Newburgh, N. Y., form a picturesque and attractive feature in his well kept grounds, and will no doubt be a source of much enjoyment to their owner.

ORCHARD HOUSES.

Glass-houses devoted exclusively to the cultivation of such fruits as are usually found in our orchards and gardens, would seem to be hardly necessary erections in our climate, with its bright and genial sunshine. But we must call to mind the almost total failure of the peach crop for several years past, on account of the severity of the winter frost, in sections of the country where this fruit was formerly cultivated with the greatest success, and ripened in the fullest abundance and perfection. We cannot forget, also, that it is next to impossible to prevent the attacks of the curculio upon our smooth-skinned fruits,—the Nectarine, Apricot and Plum—and the vast amount of vigilance and care required to counteract the invasions of the various other insect pests which visit us, and to obtain even a moderate crop, in many localities, out of doors. And we must be willing to concede that the certain means of securing even a limited supply of these delicious fruits, is worthy of our careful consideration.

Well managed Orchard houses will give us, without doubt or failure, the Peach, the Apricot, the Nectarine, the Plum, the Fig, and many other fruits in great perfection. With the addition of fire heat these may be forced, and the fruit obtained much in advance of its natural season.

In England, houses for the growth of these fruits, which will generally not ripen in the open air of that climate, have been in successful use for a number of years. In these houses the trees are planted in prepared borders, which gives the roots liberty to ramble at will. The fruit thus produced is very beautiful in appearance, and if abundant ventilation is supplied, at the proper season, it is of tolerable flavor. The great difficulty in this mode of culture, seems to be in not being able to furnish adequate ventilation to the house at the period of ripening, to enable the fruit to acquire its full flavor and perfection of delicacy and richness. Another difficulty is the over vigorous growth of the trees, and the care required to restrain them within proper bounds.

An impetus was given to the erection of Orchard houses in England, by Mr. Rivers, the celebrated nurseryman and fruit grower, by the publication of his little work on the subject of Orchard houses, in which he advocated the growth of trees in pots. By this system of pot culture, we are enabled to remove the trees when the fruit begins to color, and thus to ripen and perfect it in the open air. The over-growth of wood is also restrained in this system of culture, the trees being easily managed and controlled. Great success has, in many instances, attended this mode of culture in this country. Although it is but a few years since experiments were commenced here, some of our fruit growers have acquired such skill and experience, as to enable them to realize considerable profits from their investments in a money point of view, besides demonstrating the practicability of the system.

The majority of houses erected for this purpose among us, have been of the cheapest possible description. While the culture was merely experimental, this was all well enough; but now that the Orchard house has taken its place among other Horticultural structures, the same arguments we have urged against cheap Graperies will apply with equal force to this class of buildings.

The principal differences between the plans for Orchard houses and Graperies are, first, the somewhat lower roof of the former, that the pots containing the trees may stand upon the earth floor or border, while the foliage may be brought as near as possible to the glass; and secondly, the very ample ventilation required by the trees, at certain periods of their growth, and in completing the "hardening off" process of the wood, and leaves if the trees are to be removed to the open air.

Fruit trees are frequently grown in pots in Graperies. After the vines have expanded their leaves maturely, and obstructed the light, it becomes necessary to remove the trees to the open air. The leaves and new grown wood being very tender, the abrupt change to a different climate is too great, and they suffer in consequence. In a well constructed Orchard house, the means of ventilation should be so ample that the trees may be gradually inured to the change; or if it is desirable to let the trees remain within the house through the summer, the access of the air must be so abundant as to give as nearly as possible that flavor to the fruit which it would acquire if fully exposed.