88 THE HOT-HOUSE. [JAW. 



the back wall for the convenience of walking, watering and at- 

 tending the plants ; then in the middle space is formed the pit for 

 the bark-bed, six, seven or eight feet wide, or whatever it may 

 allow, and the whole length of the house, the end walks excepted ; 

 which is to be three feet deep, and surrounded with a nine inch 

 brick wall, coping it all round with a timber plate, framed and mor- 

 tised together, which effectually secures the brick-work i sometimes 

 a four inch wall is made to do, as by such more room is gained in 

 the pit; this will answer very well, but is not so permanent. 



The top of this pit ought to be exactly on a level with the front 

 wall, and the bottom free from any lodgment of water at any sea- 

 son, for it would soak up through the bark, destroy its fermenta- 

 tion, and render it useless ; therefore, this must be taken into con- 

 sideration at the time of building the outside walls, when, if any 

 dampness is apprehended, the front wall must be raised three feet 

 above the level of the floor; if not, two feet will be sufficient, and 

 the pit may be sunk twelve inches ; the bottom of which must be 

 well paved with brick or stone, to prevent the bark coming in con- 

 tact with the earth, which would cause it to cool and rot suddenly. 



The walks round the pit must be neatly paved either with brick 

 or cut stone ; this being very necessary for the convenience of per- 

 forming the occasional operations of culture, as well as to admit 

 walking round to view the plants, and gather the produce of such as 

 yield any: as the pine-apple, and such other plants as are occasionally 

 introduced for forcing their fruit to early perfection. 



The timber-framing, and glass-work, for enclosing the whole, 

 will consist of a close-continued range of glass-sashes all along the 

 front, both ends, or part of them, and the entire roof, quite up to 

 the back wall ; each sash, both for upright and roof lights being 

 three feet six inches, or four feet wide ; and for the support of 

 which, a framing of timber is to be erected on the brick walling, 

 conformable to the width and length of the sashes. 



For the reception of the perpendicular glasses in the front and 

 ends, substantial timber plates are placed along the top of the walls, 

 upon which is erected uprights, distant from one another the width 

 of the sashes, framed into a plate or crown-piece above, of sufficient 

 height to raise the whole front head high from the floor, both ends 

 corresponding with the front and back ; a plate of timber is also to 

 be framed to the back wall above, to receive the sloping bars from 

 the frame-work in front ; proper groves being formed in the front 

 plates below and above, to receive the ends of the perpendicular 

 sashes, which are to be so contrived as to slide backward and for- 

 ward, one beside the other, for the admitting of fresh air, 8cc. 



From the top of the upright framing in front, are to be carried 

 substantial cross-bars or bearers, sloping to the top of the back 

 wall, where, being also a timber-plate, they are to be framed at both 

 ends into these plates, at regular distances, to receive and support 

 the slope-glasses of the roof, placed close together upon these cross-* 

 bars or rafters ; or these rafters may be formed so as to have a par- 

 tition of one inch and half between the glasses, on top of which is to 

 be placed a slip of board, four inches wide, to prevent the raiijr 



