THE PINE APPLE. 23 



struction, which are used in the most severe wea- 

 ther. Sometimes there is a double roof of glass ; 

 but more generally the roof, ends, and fronts, are 

 covered with boards ; which not only prevents the 

 weight of sudden falls of snow from breaking the 

 glass, but by admitting of a coating of snow over 

 them, prevents, in a considerable degree, the in- 

 ternal heat from escaping. This covering, or a 

 covering of matts or canvass, as practised near 

 Moscow, and from which the snow is raked off as 

 fast as it falls, is sometimes kept on night and day 

 for three months together. The plants being all the 

 while in a dormant state, it is remarkable how 

 little they suffer. 



The best ranges of hot-houses in the neighbour- 

 hood of Petersburg, have been imported there from 

 Leith, or London. At Moscow, where the same 

 facility of importation is not afforded, they are 

 constructed on the spot, in a very rude manner ; 

 in the best of them, the interstices between the 

 sashes and rafters are so large, that they have to 

 be stuffed with moss. Still it is astonishing how 

 well the Pine Apple is preserved in them through 

 a long winter, and what excellent peaches and 

 grapes they produce during summer. The cause 

 seems to be owing to the great care and skill of the 

 gardeners, in keeping the plants in a dormant 

 state, when there is but little light ; and in apply- 

 ing powerfully all the agents of growth and culture, 

 during the short, but warm Russian summer. 



There are some German gardeners in Russia, 

 c 4 



