WINTER PROTECTION 



Cytixus Cnnariensis, unless the whole roof is glass. A 

 pit like this has always been used in tin- Arnold Arbo- 

 retum for wintering seedlings, rooted cut tings and 

 grafts, young stock grown iu flats hut too delicate for 

 the open ground. The arrangement of shelves shown 

 in the diagram gives storage to large numbers of these 

 small plants. 



In No. 4 is shown a small plant cellar, more expensive 

 but with better capacity for large plants. It should run 

 north and south, and, excepting the glass roof, is win illy 

 below ground, and consequently extremely well protect > d 

 against frost. The door is at either end or side. By 

 taking advantage of sloping ground it is possible to 

 enter on the ground-floor level, which is important when 

 large plants in tubs must be handled. In such cases a 

 concrete floor may be built. The monitor roof provides 

 plenty of light and ventilation; wooden shutters cover 

 the glass in cold weather. This form of pit is not only 

 well adapted to plants, but also is excellent for storing 

 vegetables and fruits. The forms of buildings larger 

 than those above described vary much with different 

 circumstances. Sometimes the cellar of a stable, tool- 

 house or other outbuilding can he utilized. The chief 

 consideration is pro- 

 tection against frost, 

 but provision must be 

 made for thorough ven- 

 tilation, and against a 

 too high temperature 

 in the autumn and 

 early spring. It is he- 

 cause it is hardly pos- 

 sible to provide for 

 these matters that 

 dwelling-house cellars 

 do not make good pits; 

 they cannot be suffi- 

 ciently ventilated to 

 keep the temperature 

 low enough except in 

 the middle of winter. 

 Growth is incited and 

 cannot be maintained 

 owing to lack of light. 

 Construction of the 

 Pits. Owing to their 

 position, pits cannot 

 well be made of wood, 

 plank and cedar posts 

 lasting from 4-6 years 



W1NTKU PKOTF.CTION 





pits have stood 10 or 12 years without showing any 

 sign of deterioration. It is not neee-.~ary to use 

 priced Portland cement-., because the structures are e- 





2738. Nurseryman's cold pit. 



A cheap device for wintering plants that require comparatively 

 little light. 



cured against frost by the winter protection required for 

 their contents. An excavation of the required dimen- 

 sions is made, with due allowance for the walls. Inside 



the excavation a plank 

 molding frame is built 

 at the proper distance; 

 viz., the thickness of 

 the walls, from the 

 walls of earth which 

 should have been cut 

 as true as possible. 

 This frame, which 

 should also be true and 

 plumb, is carried to the 

 required height for the 

 inside face of wall and 

 another frame is made 

 at the proper distance 

 on the surface of the 

 ground, tin- inner face 

 <>f which will be the 

 outside face of the 

 <-onii'leted wall. These 

 frames must be well 

 braced; they carry a 

 heavy load until tin- ce- 

 ment hardens. It is 

 not necessary to make 

 a complete frame for 



2737. An outside cellar, in which to store roots and tubers, and 



pots of resting stuff. 



the whole pit at once; 



mly. "For large pits, stone and brick are most eco- one end and a half of both sides can be built first, and the 

 nomical for walls and ceilings; for small ones concrete same frame reversed will serve for the remainder 

 probably makes the cheapest and best wall. At the concrete is made by mixing dry one part 

 Butey institution the concrete walls of several small good ^^^^^S^iJS. } ^&^ 



thorough mixture, add enough water to 

 make a thick paste. Add to this paste 

 three parts (sometimes four are used) of 

 clean gravel. Broken stone is better but 

 more expensive. No stones larger than a 

 goose egg should be used. The whole 

 sh >uld be completely and quite carefully 

 blended with hoe or shovel until each 

 stone is coated. Throw this mass into 

 the space between the molding frame and 

 earth wall and settle compactly with a 

 rammer. It is not advisable to mix more 

 than a barrel at once, nor so much as this 

 unless at least six men are employed. 

 Continuous batches are made until the 

 work is finished. When the top layers are 

 going in, Insert 5i-in. iron bolts 6- in. 

 long at intervals of sir ft. These secure 

 the wooden sills. In warm dry weather 

 the frames can be removed within twenty- 

 four hours or less, but first examine care- 

 fully the condition of the cement. Aft- r 

 removal, smooth off any roughness and 

 grout in with a whitewash brush a coat of 

 Portland cement mixed with water, but 

 without sand, thu- obtaining a good 

 and a more homogeneous surface. For 



2736. Deep pit built like a coldframe. for carrying half several days the work should be shaded 



plants over winter. 



125 



