140 



BRITISH MODES OF CULTIVATING 



heat in the very part where it should penetrate to 

 the interior of the pit. 



Occasionally some plants are fruited in these 

 pits, especially at Kew, but, in general, they are 

 removed to a low house (fig. 15.) of a most econo- 



15 



mical and judicious construction, and calculated 

 both for the growth of Pines and Vines. This house 

 is fifteen feet wide within walls ; the pit ( a ), is nine 

 feet wide ; the back path ( b ), forms a border for 

 the roots of the Vines ; the pit is surrounded by a 

 flue ( c, d ) ; the curb, or plate is two feet three 

 inches from the glass in front ( e ), and four feet 

 eight inches from it behind (jf ) ; the Vines are 

 planted in the back border ( b ), and trained under 

 the roof directly over it and over the back flue ; 

 and others are planted in the front border ( g ) ; 

 and trained up the rafters. 



The length of the houses in the royal gardens at 

 Kensington, varies from thirty- three to fifty feet 

 (fig. 16.) : each house has two furnaces, one for 

 constant use, and another for giving an extra sup- 



