Book I. 



PINERY. 



503 



434 



pit (2) three feet three inches deep, as long as you require, and sufficiently broad to 

 admit of linings on each side (1, 3) ; make a good drain at the bottom of the pit to keep 

 it dry ; then set posts, about the dimensions of six inches square, in the pit, at conve- 

 nient distances (say about the width of the top lights), and case it round with one inch 

 and a half deal wrought boards above the surface, and below with any inferior boards 

 or planks. The dimensions of my succession-beds or frame are thirty-nine feet long, 

 and seven feet wide ; containing two hundred and seventy-three square feet, which will 

 hold three hundred and fifty suckers, from the end of September till the seventh of 

 April." (Cult, of Anan. p. 11.) 



2651. The f rait ing-house (fig. 433.) is a pit with a walk behind; "ink the glass 

 should be closely puttied, to keep out the cold air, and to retain the warm, and in the 

 back there should be three lids (b), to admit air , the dimensions of each to be three feet 

 long and one foot deep. The flue makes only one course in the passage behind." (Cull, 

 of Anan. p. 19.) 



2652. Aitons pine-pits at Kensington {fig. 434.) 

 are constructed exactly in Baldwin's manner, with 

 this difference, that the sub-soil at Kensington being 

 moist, they are raised on a small platform (a, b) above 

 the surface, instead of being sunk under it, as Bald- 

 win's are. They have, also, the addition of a gutter 

 in front (c), which, though at first sight it may appear 

 trifling, yet, in practice, is of very material consequence, by keeping the lining dry, and 

 not chilling and interrupting the heat in the very part where it should penetrate to the 

 interior of the pit. Occasionally some plants are fruited in these pits, especially at Kew, 

 but in general they are removed to a low house 

 (fig. 435.) of a most economical and judicious 

 construction, and calculated both for the growth 

 of pines and vines. This house is fifteen feet 

 wide within walls ; the pit (a) is nine feet wide ; 

 the back path (b) forms a border for the roots of 

 the vines ; the pit is surrounded by a flue (c, d) ; 

 the curb is two feet three inches from the glass ** 

 in front (e), and four feet eight inches from it 

 behind (f) ; the vines are planted in the back 

 border (b), and trained under the roof directly over it and over the back flue ; and others 

 are planted in the front border (g) ; and trained up the rafters. The length of the 

 houses in the royal gardens at Kensington varies from thirty-three to fifty feet (^g.436.) : 



436 



each house has two furnaces, one for constant use, and another for giving an extra supply 

 of heat in very severe weather. The first (a) proceeds directly to the front corner^), thence 

 along the front to the opposite end (c), then along the back of the pit (d,e), passing 

 under the back path, or border, and terminating in a chimney (/) beside the furnace. 

 The other furnace is placed at the opposite end of the house (g) ; has a short flue under 

 the back path, which conducts it to the back course of the principal flue (at d), which it 

 V Kk 4 



