176 



in it, as recommended by M'Phail ; and the bottom 

 may be covered with slate or bricks, and thus the 

 steam will entirely be prevented from getting among 

 the plants. (Flor. Journ. 1845, 31.) 



That Mr. Davidson's plan, here described, will 

 succeed there can be no doubt. To build pits with 

 hot water piping for this purpose is, however, a rather 

 costly affair, unless they are intended for growing 

 melons in afterwards, in both which cases we think 

 that a tank bottom heat would be a valuable adjunct. 

 Indeed, we do not see why the atmospheric heat ne- 

 cessary should not be produced by means of a tank 

 bottom heat alone ; sUdes to graduate being provided 

 in order to admit atmospheric moisture from the 

 chamber containing the pipes, at pleasure. With all 

 due respect, we must beg to differ from Mr. David- 

 son in one matter. He seems to think bottom heat 

 almost unnecessary : we think it the grand essential 

 in the whole affair. 



Temperature. — The night temperature should not 

 be below 50 degs., though some gardeners do not 

 object to 45. The day temperature may range from 

 60 to 65 degs. It must be borne in mind that As- 

 paragus is very impatient of a high temperature to 

 its roots, therefore the bottom heat should be care- 

 fully attended to. 



AVe are here tempted to offer a suggestion as to a 

 kind of simple pit, which would, we conceive, be very 



