104 



THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



A CHEAP PIT FOR AMATEURS. 



The accompanying plans represent a suit- 

 able pit for amateurs, who delight in 

 having a few choice things of their own 

 raising. Let them not thiuk, on looking at 

 this somewhat prolix plan, that a great ex- 

 penditure and a vast amount of skill is ne- 

 cessary to realize what is here represented ; 

 for that is not the case, as I hope presently 

 to show. The plans have been designed 

 in such detail in order to simplify the 

 labour of the builder ; and it is estimated 

 that the whole cost should not exceed £20, 

 and, when carried out, would form a com- 

 plete muUum in fano for the gardening 

 amateur ; and, as the amount of the vari- 

 .ous materials is given, it is hoped that 

 'from such data little trouble will be expe- 

 rienced in ascertaining on the spot the 

 exact cost of the erection ; for as prices 

 differ according to the distance the mate- 

 rials have to be carted, etc., a list of prices 

 given here would not be found to answer 

 for every locality. Fig. 1 represents the 

 ground-plan and section of warm-pit, in 

 the back of which is a path, h, a bed for tan 

 or leaves, a, in which roses, lilacs, azaleas, 

 rhododendrons as well as a supply of 

 hyacinths, narcissus, etc., may be forced 

 during the dull months of winter ; and in 

 summer, achimenes, gloxinias, and many of 

 our glorious stove-plants may be had, as 

 well as a few pots of nice strawberries on 



nOAVLUTT, OF WHITWELL 

 shelf S 



The roof is a fixture on the same 

 plan as lately described for a " Cheap 

 Greenhouse ; " whilst ventilation is secured 

 by three openings back and front, each 18 

 inches by 9 inches c, over which slide 

 boards in a groove, and -which are con- 

 nected together by means of a stout wire, 

 running from one to the other, with a 

 handle at the end, so that all may be 

 opened or shut at once by merely pidling or 

 pushing the handle. The ends of this part 

 maybe either all brickwork, or the front wall 

 returned ; and above that may be glass, 

 according to the taste of the builder. The 

 latter would be the best-looking plan, but 

 would cost a trifle more than brickwork. 

 Atmospheric heat is obtained from two 

 4-inch hot-water pipes d, the flow rising 

 at g, and the return descending to boiler 

 at /, and flue formed with 9-inch drain- 

 pipes, as lately described in " Cheap Green- 

 house." I would here remark that where- 

 ever an elbow occurs in this kind of flue, 

 it is well to use a few bricks, covering with 

 a pavement, the removal of which at any 

 time will enable a flue-brush to be got in 

 for cleansing the flue. It is also to be re- 

 membered that a flue always acts best 

 when the furnace is sunk considerably 

 lower than the line the flue traverses, 

 otherwise the air stagnates in it, and causes 

 the smoke to rush out at the furnace-door. 



^CALIB 



