344 



FORCING GARDEN. 



Fig. 40. 



bark, is perhaps the best hitherto devised. The Alderston 

 Melon-pit, and Atkinson's Melon-pit, described under the 

 head Melonry, are likewise very suitable for this purpose. 

 In winter, it is desirable to have the assistance of fire-heat, 

 either from flues, or, what is better, from hot water ; though 

 this fire-heat is not indispensable. 



The succession-pit performs the 

 same functions as the nursing-pit, 

 but at a more advanced stage of 

 the growth of the plant, and con- 

 sequently requires an increase of 

 size. With this difference, At- 

 kinson's Melon-pit does very well 

 for summer use. In colder sea- 

 sons, we should prefer a pit simi- 

 lar to that represented on the mar- 

 gin ; in which a hot-water appa- 

 ratus on the siphon principle is 

 ] employed to heat the atmosphere 

 of the pits, and the bottom-heat 

 is communicated by the circula- 

 tion of hot water from the same 

 boiler, in open troughs resting on 

 the bottom of the pit. The boiler 

 a is placed nearly on a level with 

 the bottom of the pit. b, Pipes 

 on the siphon principle for warm- 

 ing the air of the pit. CC, 

 Troughs for communicating the 

 bottom-heat, placed in the bot- 

 tom of the pit on a level with 

 the boiler. The water is drawn from the boiler to the 

 ends of the troughs d d by small movable siphons 



