FORCING PITS OE GREEN-HOUSES. 63 



These forcing pits are likewise used for starting seeds 

 of Tomato, Egg, Pepper, Cabbage, and Cauliflower, and 

 sprouting Sweet Potatoes, which is done with far less risk 

 and in a much better manner, than can be accomplished 

 by the hot-bed. One great advantage is, that by being 

 able to walk inside of them, these pits are accessible in 

 all weathers, while with the hot-bed or frames, we are in 

 winter often debarred from examination for whole days 

 together. 



At present prices, in this locality, these pits cost 

 about $10 per lineal foot, everything complete put 

 up in the way indicated by the plan in a plain sub- 

 stantial manner. But those whose circumstances do 

 not admit of the expense of heating by hot water, 

 (which is nearly half the cost of the whole), may put up 

 erections of exactly the same character, and heat them by 

 the common smoke flue, at an expense of from five to 

 six dollars per lineal foot, in the manner shown by the 

 plan, fig. 25. It will be seen by this sketch, that two 

 flues only are used for the three pits, each passing first up 

 under the bench on the outside houses, is carried along 

 the end and returned through the middle houses; this 

 equalizes the temperature in all three, for the outside 

 houses get only one run of the flue, but it being directly 

 from the fire, gives about the same heat to the outside 

 houses as two runs in the middle house, which being at a 

 greater distance from the fire, are much colder. Three 

 attached houses, heated thus, should not be over 50 feet 

 long, in this latitude. Southward they may be 60 feet, 

 and northward 40 feet. Peculiarities of locality have 

 much to do with the heating ; in positions particularly 



