34-8 



Description of an early Forcing Pit, 



flowers ; a Gladiolus Dalian/, which had passed the M'inter in 

 the open ground ; a Portugal laurel, 20 ft. high (rare for our 

 severe climate) ; ^^bies scandens, 30 ft. high ; a weeping lime ; 

 and a Gleditschm triacanthos, diameter of trunk 2^ ft., height 

 20 ft., and with thorns J 3 in. long. Tlie plant-houses contain 

 a good collection of Orchideae, lately received from M. Van 

 Houtte, his collector in Brazil ; but, as the greater part have 

 not yet flowered, it is impossible to know much of them, except 

 that they are new kinds. In the green-house there was a very 

 fine specimen of Scott/a angustifolia ; and the borders of the 

 open ground contained a very respectable botanical collection of 

 hardy plants, and a select collection of English dahlias. As an 

 amateur, M. Parthon de Von spends much of his time in his 

 garden, and looks after the cultivation of his plants himself His 

 gardener has lived with him for many years, and is, therefore, 

 habituated to his master's ways. It is well worth while for 

 both amateur and gardener to visit M. Parthon de Von's col- 

 lection of plants, as they are sure to meet with a kind reception 

 from the master, who is always willing to exchange his plants 

 with his neighbours, for the mutual benefit of both parties. 



The only gardener of any note at Antwerp is M. Van Geest, 

 who has a fair collection of herbaceous plants, and some plant 

 structures : but Antwerp, as well as all the other Belgian towns, 

 is much behind Ghent in taste for horticulture. 



JVondelg/ieim, near Ghe?it. 



Art. III. Description of an early Forcing Pit, and a Boiler for an 

 early Forcing Stove, erected at Oakhill Gardens. By A. Forsyth. 



Fig. hi. represents the cross section of an early forcing pit, 

 heated by linings flued on both sides : a a show the stone 

 coping of the walls ; h b, cast-iron pipes, 4 in. in diameter, and 



6 ft. apart, connecting the steam flues ; c c, cavities in the 

 brickwork through which the hot air and steam pass from the 



