ADOPTED AT PORTHGWIDDEN, NEAR TUURO. 25 



because the most certain and efficient means of heating I have 

 yet seen. The range consists of — 



I. A forcing pit,* 42 feet by 8 feet, divided into three com- 

 partments A, B. C. of three lights each. 



II. An orchid house of the same length, 10 feet wide, in two 

 divisions. 



III. A row of striking frames on the north side, to which heat 

 may be given at pleasure. 



The whole M'as put to work at Easter, 1850, when pit A. was 

 planted with cucumbers (Cuthill's black and Snow's white spine 

 I find the best), and since that time we have had a constant 

 supply of the finest fruit, which has in every instance at five suc- 

 cessive exhibitions carried off the first prize. 



Pit B. was filled with vines in pots, which were ripened and 

 succeeded by melons. In December a fresh lot of vines was 

 introduced, which produced the finest crop of grapes (in pots) I 

 ever saw. Some of the pots had as many as 14 and 15 bunches, 

 well coloured. These were cut in May and June, from vines 

 which were most of them only 15 months old, and on their 

 removal melons were planted, of which there is now (Sept. 29) 

 a good crop, nearly ripe. Pit C. has already ripened ofi'a fine 

 early crop of melons, one of « hich obtained the Bronze medal at 

 the Botanic Society's exhibition in the Regent's Park. It is now 

 occupied as a cool pit, with plants of various kinds. 



The whole is heated by a single 24-lnch ribbed boiler of 

 Burbidge and Healey's pattern (they have in my opinion spoiled 

 their newly improved (?) one by getting rid of the central tube). 

 Perfect command of heat is given by the Sylvester fire-doors and 

 dampers, which need no praise from me : they are admirable, 

 and may be used with almost any boiler. The setting of the 

 boiler, as recommended by Messrs. Burbidge and Healey, is a 

 great advantage : the fuel does not come in contact with any of 

 the iron work, every inch of which is, however, exposed to the 

 action of the heat, and a system of slow combustion, regulated 

 by dampers and by a flue, which descends a little before it goes 

 off to the stack, economises fuel to a most surprising degree. 



The pipes are 4 inclies in diameter, and 1 foot from centre 

 to centre. The open ti'oughs are cast with a pipe at each end 

 to fit into the sockets ; they are 6 feet long and 9 inches wide at 

 the top ; depth 4 inches, with a shoulder cast in each rim to 

 enable us to cover them with common slate, when less moisture 

 is required ; if a very dry heat is wanted, a little sand strewed 



* The pits are really only G feet wide, but in the drawing I have made 

 them 8 feet, as I find I have such a superabundance of heat that I now wish 

 for the extra width. This is the only improvement I can suggest, after 18 

 months' trial. 



