September 2, 1876. ] 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



201 



plants. TUe walla of these pits are represented as of 9 inch 

 solid briokworli, bat it would be inlinitely preferable that they 

 be l-J-inoh hollow walls, which would more than doable their 

 frost-resistiri;; power. The glosa if sufficiently covered with 

 mats and straw will render theee hollow-walled pits frostproof 



Fig. 36. 



in any ordinary winter. However, a pipe or smoke flue along 

 the front of Fig. 35 is strongly recommended. 



frames attached to communicate heat to tho frames and house 

 at the same time. A dry site U necessary, and thn plan is 

 carried out by sinking the walls 5 feet below and raising them 

 6 feet above the ground level. The house can be made of any 

 requisite width and length. 



Fig. S8. 



In most of the plans submitted the earth is mainly relied on 

 and turned to account as a protective medium. This is fupple- 

 mented by coverings; and the introduction of a pipe, flue, or 

 stove, as is the most convenient, will prevent the temperature 

 falling so low as to injure plants which without protection 



Fig. 39. 



Another earth pit still further advanced has been commu- 

 nicated by a journeyman gardener. It is heated by hot water, 

 and is a neat and admirable contrivance, not only for protect- 

 ing bat for cultivating plants. A lattice-work platform could 

 be substituted for the soil if required. 



Fig. 37, a a, is the ground level; h, a line of pillars, on the 

 tops of which is laid a strong beam for the support of the 

 planks on which rests the soil of the bed ; c c, hot-air chamber, 

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

 with the hot-air chamber for the regulation of atmospheric 

 heat ; c c, a connection between the pipes d and the eva- 



wonld be destroyed. These plans will be saggestive, and may 

 be followed by others more pretentious in character yet of 

 practical value for many gardens. — -Compilek. 



Fig. 87. 



porating pans on the hot-water pipes, by which means water 

 can be poured into the pans, and moisture admitted to the 

 atmosphere at pleasure. 



Fig. 38 shows the sashes of this pit and the mode of fixing 

 and ventilating. 



This pit besides its usefulness for plants is adaptable for 

 forcing vegetables, as French Beans, Asparagus, Radishes, 

 Potatoes, Sea-kale, Rhubarb, Ac. 



Another idea (fig. 39) is submitted. It was originated by Mr. 

 Geyelin, C.E. It is a house for wintering plants with hotbed 



OUR BORDER FLOWERS— MILKWORTS. 



When the earth has put on her mantle of living green it !s 

 truly said that flowers are blooming everywhere. Turn onr 

 eyes where we will they meet oar gaze at every step, and our 

 senses are regaled with their sweet perfume. While strolling 

 along the woodland bank, by the rippling stream, the cheerful 

 mead, the browsed heath, or the verdant lawn, the wandering 

 eye is often caught and charmed by that little inhabitant of 

 those scenes, Polygala vulgaris, with its lovely blue flowers ; 

 and have we not paused and said to ourselves. What can it be ? 

 Perhaps we have torn it from its bed to secure a plant for cul- 

 tivation or to store-up in our herbarium. 



Various shades of colour are met with in this little group of 

 plants from dark blue, rosy purple, pink, to white, yet they 

 are Polygala vulgaris still. They may be brought into cul- 

 tivation and afford pleasure to the cultivator on the rock or in 

 the border. They will grow well in sandy loam, peat, and 

 leaf mould mixed in the ordinary soil of the border. They 

 are met with on the dry bank as well as in the moist meadow, 

 and where we find them they look at home. They may be 

 increased by division after flowering. When well established 

 the less they are disturbed the better. Polygala paucifolia, 

 said to be from America, is of very dwarf habit, and requires 

 sandy peat and loam ; it should have a favourable place on 

 the rockery or among the alpines in pots. Polygala alpestris 

 is only to be met with in choice collections; it should have a 

 sunny situation on the rockery, and be attended to with water 

 when required. Polygila mnjor is of rather stronger habit; 



