BRITISH MODES OF CULTIVATING 



passes off by the back wall at the same end. The 

 width of the pit depends on the room left by the flue; 

 to increase it no path is formed at the ends or in front, 

 and that along the back wall does not exceed two 

 feet in width. The depth of the pits is from two 

 feet and a half to three feet deep, and their distance 

 from the glass from four to six feet. Vines are 

 trained up the rafters and over the back path. 

 The sashes in front open in various ways, and air 

 is given by them, and by the sliding sashes of the 

 roof. On the whole, Mr. Andrews' best houses 

 greatly resemble those of Mr. Gunter, to be des- 

 cribed in the following section. 



In the pits there is nothing uncommon in the 

 construction ; they are, in general, sunk deep in the 

 ground, which being dry at bottom, is a great sav- 

 ing of heat. In some the tan is enclosed by brick 

 walls, in others by a frame of wood; some are 

 without flues, but the greater number have a flue 

 in front, or a steam tube, or both. 



In the year 1817, Mr. Andrews tried the effect 

 of steam, and was so much satisfied with it, that in 

 the following year, he put up an extensive appa- 

 ratus in the centre of his forcing department, 

 from which branch-pipes proceed in all directions, 

 and heat the air in the whole of his hot-houses, 

 pits, and frames. 



Soil. As near as possible that of Baldwin's, or 

 M'Phail's; a rich loam, rendered sufficiently free 

 by coarse sand, to admit the ready passage of the 

 water. 



