Forcing Houses or Pits. 75 



be made to answer. Large-sized glass is preferable, say 12 by 

 1 6 inches. The sides, consisting of boards nailed to stakes, 

 double if possible and banked up, are only one foot from level 

 of ground to eaves. The width of the whole double structure is 

 26 feet. In the centre, at B, where the two roof sections meet, 

 the sashes rest on a plate or plank 2 inches thick and 12 inches 

 wide, gathered out ^ by 8 inches to catch and carry off the 

 water, and these centre planks, as shown in engraving, rest upon 



Centre Plank and Support. 



two rows of 2 by 3 inch posts, 2^4 feet long and 12 inches above 

 the beds. These posts in each row are 4 feet apart. 



METHODS OF HEATING THE PIT. -The old method of 

 heating by means of a brick (or similar) flue has a slight saving 

 in the expense of construction in its favor, but it requires a 

 much greater running expense, especially in the items of fuel and 

 attendance. Hot-water and steam heating give us superior 

 advantages for the one single drawback of greater cost of con- 

 struction, to such an extent, indeed, that the gardener who lays 

 the least claim to progressiveness, has only his choice between 

 the hot-water and the steam system. While the battle 

 between the advocates of hot water and those of steam is still 

 raging, I can state it as a fact, that either method may be made 

 use of with perfect success. Florists and gardeners who work 

 on a very extensive scale, and can afford to employ a night 

 watchman, generally favor the steam system, and claim that it 



