4-50 Ellis's Discourse on Horticulture. 



the Ribston Pippin, which possibly sprang from its seeds." Ripens in De- 

 cember, and keeps well till March or April. 



78. The Easter Beurrfe Pear. " Of all the very late keeping pears this 

 is decidedly the best." A most profuse bearer, grafted upon the quince; 

 perfectly hardy, and will suit a wall of an east aspect. 



79. The Martin Nonpareil Apple. Useful and excellent ; a great bearer 

 as a standard tree, and in perfection at a period of the year when good 

 apples fetch a high price. Ripens in December, and will keep till April, or, 

 with good management, to Midsummer. 



.80. The Wo7-msley Pippin Apple. — An excellent autumn fruit, bearing 

 well, and having a firm high-flavoured flesh, resembling in quality that of 

 the Newtown Pippin. 



Ellis, Daniel, Esq. V. P. of the Caledonian Horticultural Society : a Dis- 

 course on Subjects relating to Horticulture, with a few Remarks on the 

 present State and Prospects of that Science. Read to the General 

 Meeting of the Caledonian Horticultural Society. Edinburgh. Pamph. 

 pp. 50. 



The late venerable Dr. Duncan, who may be called the father of the 

 Caledonian Horticultural Society, was Vice-President till his death : and he 

 is now succeeded by Mr. Ellis. After a well-merited eulogium on his prede- 

 cessor, who " not only planted the seed from which our Institution sprang, 

 but nursed it with the tenderest care," a general view is given of the present 

 state and future prospects of the Society, including the various matters re- 

 lating to horticulture which have engaged its attention, or are to be found 

 in its published Memoirs. Among the subjects noticed, that of heating 

 pine-pits by steam diffused through a bed of stones holds a conspicuous 

 place. We request particular attention to the following extract: — 



" The steam apparatus consists of a boiler and suppl3-cistern ; from the 

 former goes out a large pipe, which communicates with a tube that lies 

 lengthwise on the floor of the pit. This tube is perforated with holes, at 

 distances of about 2 ft., and diffuses the vapour among the stones through 

 all parts of the pit. 



" The pots, with the pines, are placed on a bed of cinders, 4 in. deep, 

 which lies on the Arbroath pavement ; they are then plunged as high as 

 their edges in good tan bark, and are never moved, except for repotting. 



" The temperature of the atmosphere of the pit varies at different 

 periods, according to the stage of growth in the plants. In all cases, when 

 artificial heat is necessary, fire is applied to the boiler about six in the 

 evening, and steam is procured in less than an hour. In winter, when the 

 temperature is kept at 50° or 55°, it is sufficient to apply the steam only 

 about an hour and a half in the twenty-four. In May, when the flowering 

 is over, and the temperature is kept up to 75° or 80°, the steam is applied, 

 in very warm weather, only about once or twice a week ; and in autumn, 

 during the ripening period, when the temperature is kept nearly at 65° or 

 70°, the steam is applied only once in forty-eight hours. The quantity of 

 fuel used has not been particularly attended to, having been generally the 

 refuse left from other purposes ; but, in the construction of the furnace, 

 every practicable means of economising the heat was adopted. 



" Specimens of the pine-apples and melons raised in this pit were exhi- 

 bited to the Committee of the Society, and much admired. 



" At the request of Mr. Neill, Mr. Hay has since communicated to the 

 Society a more detailed description of this method of heating pits, accom- 

 panied with very accurate plans and sections, illustrative of the mode of 

 construction in all its details. 



" The advantages of any system of artificial heating would seem to con- 

 sist, in the first place, in the facility and certainty with which the requisite 

 heat is obtained ; in the steadiness, uniformity, and permanency of the 



