Kovombor 14, 1805. ] 



JOURNAL OP HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



407 



with flow and return hot-water pipes ; d d, pipe in connection 

 with the hot-air chamber for the rcRulation of titmoHpheric 

 lioiit ; (• c, a connection between the pipes d and Iho evapora- 

 linK-pims on tlio hot-wator pipes, by whicli moans water can 

 Ijo poured into tlie pans, .and moisture admitted to the atmo- 

 HpUero at pleasiu'e. 



Fii;. 3. 



Fi(i. 2 shows !tho way in which the sashes are tilted np for 

 bottom ventilation, by means of a pbito of iron lixed with a 

 joint to the coping of the wall of the pit, and pierced with holes 

 for the admission of a peg, fixed into the centre of each sash. 

 The ridge at the top, which may eitlier be of glass or board, is 

 intended to be raised by some simple mode of lever power from 

 one of the ends, which will secure abundance of top ventilation. 

 Fig. 3 shows tho means by which the 

 sashes are secured from shifting when 

 tilted up. Tho jiivot on which they 

 work may either be an iron rod running 

 the entire length of the pit, or merely 

 pegs fixed into the rafters. When soil 

 is being shifted the sashes may be 

 taken off and laid aside. — A Jodrney- 



Pig. 3. 



MAN Gardener. 



[There is not, we think, much that is new in your proposed 

 pits, but they would be none the less useful on that acconnt, 

 and the mode of ventilation, especially, is simple and good. We 

 have repeatedly given utterance to the idea that so much cram- 

 ming of bedding plants, &c., under glass in winter and spring 

 involves a vast amount of labour in shifting plants from place 

 to place, and that the expense of that labour would ere long 

 provide more glass, so as to avoid the necessity of so much 

 moving. Many gentlemen see this as well as we do, but the 

 extra labour is only a small annual per-centage on what the 

 cost of houses would be at first, and therefore here, as in many 

 other respects, the first expense is the difficulty to bo sur- 

 mounted. Perhaps our correspondent's arguments will have 

 success when ours have often failed. One standing argument 

 amongst ladies and gentlemen is shortly this, that providing 

 they were to build these ranges of pits ostensibly for bedding 

 plants, only a short time would elapse before they would ogain 

 be requested to do the same thing, the pits having proved them» 

 selves so useful for general purposes, that as much convenience 

 for bedding plants is wanted again. We must confess that 

 there is no little truth in such arguments, as most gardeners 

 svho wish to do as much as they can to please their employers, 

 use one such concession as a sort of fulcrum for resting their 

 lever arguments for securing another and another improvement. 

 Most servants are careless about increasing what would add to 

 their laboiu-s ; but gardeners, as a class, leave this out of sight, 

 and will even encounter the additional labour when told they 

 can have no more labour power to help them. In the manage- 

 ment of such proposed pits there would often be less labour 

 than is now involved from the necessity of constantly moving, 

 to suit the wants of the denizens in houses and the merely 

 temporary occupants. 



For mere bedding plants pits would do very well without a 

 chamber and bottom heat, with merely a pipe round them, or 

 the pipes in front, and would cost much less than sunk pits, 

 and hundreds of gardeners would be glad of such structures. 

 But for the extra expense, however, we would much prefer pits 

 like those of our correspondent, and to have a platform instead 

 of soil or ashes for setting the plants on, as such pits enclose 

 a much greater amount of air, and therefore are less liable to 

 sudden fluctuations of heat and cold. We are supposing that 

 the platform is sufficiently open to allow the air above and 

 below it freely to commingle. 



Such pits with bottom heat, and means by drain tiles or other 

 openings for that heat to pass upwards when necessary, would 

 do admirably for Cucumbers and Melons in summer, and for 

 Radishes, Lettuces, Rhubarb, Sea-kale shaded, and Asparagus 

 with plenty of light, in winter and early spring, and would be 

 first-rate for bedding plants — say from the end of February, 



or as much earlier as might bo convenient, or all tho winter 

 throufih ; but our practice would lead us to say that if Kidney 

 Beans arc attempted in winter, tlioro should be two pipes m 

 addition for top heat, as assuredly in severe weather, even 

 with mats on the glass, the two pipes in the chamljcr will not 

 be enough to keep tho plants healthy. True, we have gro\vu 

 such Beans successfully in tho common dung-pit and frame in 

 winter, but all who have done so know the trouble it involves 

 in dull muggy weather, and how nicely a hot-water pipe would 

 keep all dry and sweet. 



After saying so much, we may add, that not having such pits 

 as our correspondent so well recommends, we use common 

 earth-pits, or turf-pits, with any little protection we can obtain 

 from calico, mats, hurdles, &c., for thinning our bedding plants, 

 and in these pits we begin to plant out the hardiest in the 

 beginning of March, planting them, according to kinds, from 

 4 to G and 9 inches asunder ; and although the plan gives trouble, 

 there is no drawing up and weakening of the plants, as would 

 be sure to be the case if tlio plants were placed close together 

 in a cold pit, &o., without this jjlanting out. One word more ; 

 in the southern counties these span-roofed pits of our corre- 

 spondent will answer very well. In very cold exposed places 

 it might be desirable to revert to the old lean-to roof, merely 

 for securing more warmth, oven if there should not be quite 

 so much direct light.] 



WORK FOR TPIE WEEK. 



KITCHEN GARDEN. 



Much as there has been written on the utility of trenching 

 the ground in kitchen gardens, and bringing up a portion of 

 the subsoil to mix with the surface soil, when the latter is said 

 to be " worn out " with constant cropping, some persons are 

 stUl blind to its advantages. If the subsoil is a stiff loam, they 

 are fearful of mixing a small portion of it with the surface soU, 

 although the latter may be Like an ash-heap, and as rich as 

 dung can make it. We are awaro that it requires some judgment 

 as to the quantity of the subsoil to be brought up, as the 

 texture of the soil may be materially injured by a large quan- 

 tity at one time ; but it can rarely so happen with a small 

 quantity, and as very many old gardens would be greatly bene- 

 fited by this operation, we hope the present favourable weather 

 will be taken advantage of for the purpose. Artichokes, im- 

 mediate steps should be taken to protect the roots from frost, 

 if not already done. In some situations this may not be ne- 

 cessary, but it is best to be on the safe side. Cabbages, all 

 that are sufficiently grown to admit of being earthed-up, should 

 have it done before frost sets in. Red Cabbages for spring use 

 may still be planted. Cucumbers, the plants should be kept as 

 near the light as possible, nothing can supply the want of it, 

 while heat, air, and water can be given as required. Endive, 

 take up and plant in a frame some of the most forward, so that 

 should severe frost occur there may be a supply. Dwarf Kidney 

 Beam, add soU to the last sowing as they grow, until the pots 

 are nearly full. Keep those in bearing well supplied w;th water, 

 il/iis/iroom-s, take advantage of wet days for making fresh beds, 

 and clearing out those that are spent, also collect and prepare 

 droppings for forming fresh beds, by spreading them in a shed 

 and turning them over frequently nntU they are sufficiently 

 dried to prevent excessive fermentation after putting up. 

 Tiadiahes, these are sometimes required all the year round, 

 where this is the case, it will now be necessary to sow in a 

 slight hotbed. After they are up air should be given at every 

 favourable opportunity. If they are sown immediately they 

 will be ready to draw in the latter end of January. Rhubarb, 

 a few old roots may be taken up and planted in boxes or pots, 

 which may be placed in a Mushroom or forcing-house where 

 the heat is about 60°. Clear up all decaying leaves, &c., and 

 on dry days stir the surface of the soil among growing crops, 

 as Cabbages, Spinach, &c. No vacant ground should now 

 remain undug, it is sometimes the practice to leave the whole 

 of the digging tUl frosty weather sets in, but by so doing half 

 the benefit the soil would receive is lost, and independently ol 

 this it makes the garden look very untidy. 



FRniT GARDEN. 



Pruning and nailing should now be proceeded with every 

 fine day, even although it should delay some other work which 

 can be' done with more comfort in bad weather than naiUng. 

 It is most important to have the latter done whUe the weather 

 is mUd. Nailing is a cold enough job for even a warm winter's 

 day, but to tnm men out to it in very cold or wet weather, and 



