104 Heating Horticultural Buildings. 



find in it some valuable suggestions. The remarks on 

 various modes of heating, especially with the system of brick 

 flues, are strictly correct, and fully show the evils arising 

 from that old and exploded mode of warming structures for 

 plants. 



The plans of the pine and melon pits, though undoubtedly 

 well adapted to the climate of England, would not answer 

 so well with us. Our severe weather would require more 

 heat in the house than the pipes supply from the chamber. 

 The same evil which he states was experienced with regard 

 to expelling damp in the melon pit, would be felt in a still 

 greater degree here, notwithstanding our greater quantity of 

 sunshine. Our cold nights are more than sufficient to make 

 up for this ; as during the severe cold, the frost accumulates 

 to a great thickness, and it requires a dry heat to expel so 

 much moisture from the house ; consequently these plans 

 are the least adapted to general use, except in the middle and 

 western states, where, from the milder winters, they may be 

 adopted with perfect safety. 



The two last plans, {figs. 8 and 9,) are those which we 

 think very highly of, and would recommend for general in- 

 troduction where there is a good forcing pit wanted for rais- 

 ing cucumbers, melons, &c., or for forcing plants into bloom. 

 The gutters afford ample bottom heat, and give out some to 

 the house ; but, in damp weather, or when severe cold oc- 

 curs, the fires may be lighted in the fines, and any degree of 

 heat be kept up. We had a somewhat similar instance of 

 this ourselves ; a new house, heated on the gutter system, 

 afforded plenty of bottom heat, but the temperature of the 

 house could not, in the most severe weather, be kept above 

 35° or 36°. With the aid of a single flue, it is easily kept 

 at 70°. Figs. 6 and 7 are plans of an excellent pit ; but the 

 boiler must be one of the conical ones, as the water is carried 

 up higher than the boiler. 



We shall be glad to learn the results of any houses or pits, 

 constructed or heated by either of the modes described by 

 our correspondent. — Ed. 



