2193. The fruit-room at Eridge Castle, Mr. Ogle informs us, has a north aspect, which he considers best. 'The walls [as shown in fiq. 659.] are 14 in. thick, and are built hollow, three stretchers being used to one header, which is quite sufficient for a building of this description. Near the roof are three ventilators (a in fig. 660.), which it may be sometimes necessary to use. The rafters are cut deep, and before the roof was slated, the plastering laths were put on, and then the space between each rafter was closely packed with straw, forming a thick thatch, beneath the slates. This,' Mr. Ogle continues, he considers 'a most important point, as without the straw, the interior would be subject to great variations of temperature, which are most prejudicial to the fruit. There are several holes in the sparrow board (c), which are covered with pieces of perforated zinc to keep out mice and bats, and there are several brick gratings in the back wall (b) from the upper part of the roof, so that there is a slight circulation of air in the roof; but in severe weather it may be necessary to close the holes. The back part of the interior is fitted up with latticed shelves, made with the best white deal: the front, with the exception of the space taken up by two windows, is filled with latticed drawers, 6 in. deep, for the storing of choice apples and pears. There are shutters for the inside of the windows. The door in the centre of the front is used for bringing in the fruit, but the one at the end opens from the seed-room, and is that most generally used.'
