82 THE FORCING GARDEN. 
The cost of such a pit may be fairly estimated at 
361. more or less, according to the distance the bricks 
have to be carried and the other materials, but I have 
put the highest possible figure upon everything con- 
nected with this pit. I have calculated 1/. 10s. per 1,000 
for the bricks, which would include the carting if not 
too far from the kiln. The number of bricks required 
for a pit sixty feet long and six feet wide, with single 
work for the outside walls, six feet deep at the back, 
four feet above ground, and two feet below the surface 
all round; with five feet deep for the brickwork in 
front; single bricks laid in cement for the sides of the 
tank, and brick on edge laid in cement for the bottom 
of the tank, will be about 7,849, perhaps a few more 
or less. I have allowed 5/. for a good boiler, connec- 
tions and setting—one of those tubular saddle boilers 
at 3l. 16s. will answer the purpose well, and I have also 
allowed 12s. per sash complete for the frame-lights, 
which is ample; 5/. for floor tiles for the cover of the 
tank, for the soil &c. to rest upon, and 4/. or nearly so 
for labour alone, which I am sure is ample; so that it 
will be found that this estimate is not much out of the 
way. 
Now let us see what can be done in one year with 
it in a commercial way so as to pay the cost. I will 
suppose that the pit is completed and dry by Sep- 
tember. In the first place, it may be filled with 
Rhubarb, of which it would hold 360 very strong roots, 
each of which would give at the least two pounds weight 
of Rhubarb, and this at 6d. per pound will be 18/. This 
Rhubarb would be all over in time for a second crop of 
Melons, which would be as valuable as the first crop. 
Supposing that 155 fruit only were got from this whole 
