AND ULANCIIUVG WINTKK SALADS. 



303 



Section of a portion of tlie quadruple range of forcing-pits :it lJ;ising Park, illustrative of 

 the mode of forcing winter vegetables. 



Description of Flan. 



1. Pits which were formerly used for fermenting material. 



2. Flue into which the steam from the lining-pits formerly passed. 



3. Hot-water chamber, 4. Dung chamber. 



5. Large flints, placed for the purpose of contracting the chamber. 



6. Wooden covers of inch-thick larch board resting on cast iron bearers 

 and wooden fillets : these covers have been down thirteen years. 



7. Hot-water troughs ou bearers. 



8. Slate bottom to the bed 1 inch thick. 



9. Wooden bottom to allow the dung steam to pass into the bed. 

 10. Brushwood. 11. Mould. 12. Vegetables. 

 13. Hot- water pipes. 



In a quadruple range of forcing-pits (of which tlie annexed 

 section of apart of them will convey an accurate idea) the pits 

 are situated two- feet apart from each other, and were formerly 

 heated by dung linings in the intervening spaces, which were 

 closely covered over with wooden shutters : tlie latter rested on 

 cast-iron bearers, and formed at once a walk between the pits 

 and a means of preventing the escape of lieat from the dung- 

 underneath ; they also kept it from being chilled by tlie action 

 of the weather. But as tliis sy.stem has been given up for the 

 more modern and ready one of applying the heat in chambers 

 underneath tlie beds, these lining-pits have been rendered useless 

 for their original purpose, and I have since then applied them 

 very successfully to the forcing of winter vegetables. They do 

 not require any special heating, for a sufficiency of warmtii is 

 generated tlirough tlie walls of the adjacent chambers. A cover- 

 ing of straw during periods of severe frosts is added ; but this is 

 more a precautionary measure than one of necessity. These 

 pits are 4-^ feet in depth. In the bottom of them a layer of 

 brushwood is placed, so as to enable the heat to penetrate more 

 readily under the roots, and to allow any excess of moisture to 

 drain off effectually ; the roots are then removed from the open 

 ground with the usual care, and planted on a bed of mould which 



