ON. THE CONSTRUCTION OF A HOT-HOUSE. 347 



ductor. The above description is for burning anthra- 

 cite coal, but where wood is to be the fuel, the furnace 

 and flues must be one half larger. We have been par- 

 ticular in the description of furnace bars, as those ge- 

 nerally used are miserable substitutes. Circumstances 

 may cause the furnace to be placed at the end or front 

 of the house. In either case the stock hole will not re- 

 quire to be so deep ; or where there is only one door in 

 the house a stock hole three and a half feet deep will 

 be enough, which should be built like a cellar to keep 

 out any under water. In all instances pass the first flue 

 to the front of the house, over which have a close shelf 

 eight inches clear, covered with two inches of sand, 

 and by keeping it moist will afford a very congenial 

 heat to young valuable plants. Likewise over the fur* 

 nace have a frame in the same manner, which will be 

 found valuable. Any part of the furnace or flue that 

 is under the floor of the house, should have a vacuity on 

 both sides to let the heat pass upward. 



Bark Pit. We consider such an erection in the 

 centre of a Hot-house a nuisance, and prefer a stage, 

 which may be constructed according to taste. It 

 should be made of the best Carolina pine, leaving a 

 passage round the whole to cause a free circulation of 

 air. The back and end paths should be about two 

 feet wide, and the front three feet. The angle of the 

 stage should be parallel with the glass, having the 

 steps from six inches to one foot apart. 



Where there are some large plants, they may stand 

 on the floor behind the stage, or on tressels, according 

 to their height. 



