278 THE FORCING GARDEN. 



The furnaces may either be placed in front, or at 

 the back, according to conveniency ; but the strength 

 of the heat should be first exhausted in front, and 

 should return in the back-flues. The fruiting pit 

 would require two small furnaces, in order to dif- 

 fuse the heat regularly, and keep up a proper tem- 

 perature in winter ; one to be placed at each end ; 

 and either to play, first in front, and return in the 

 back ; but the flues to be above, and not alongside 

 of one another ; as in that latter way they would 

 take up too much room. The under one to be con- 

 sidered merely as an auxiliary flue, as it would only 

 be wanted occasionally. 



None of these flues need be more than five or six 

 inches wide, and nine or ten deep. Nor need the 

 furnaces be so large by a third, or a fourth part, as 

 those for large forcing-houses ; because there should 

 be proper oil-cloth covers for the whole, as guards 

 against severe weather, which would be a great sav- 

 ing of fuel. 



The depth of the pits should be regulated so as 

 that the average depth of the bark-beds may be a 

 yard below the level of the front flues ; as to that 

 level the bark will generally settle, although made 

 as high as their surfaces, when new stirred up. If 

 leaves, or a mixture of leaves with dung, are to be 

 used instead of bark, the pits will require to be a 

 foot, or half a yard deeper. 



It may be thought too much to insinuate, that 

 those who have large pineries should turn them to 

 other purposes, and erect such as are "described 

 above. There cannot be a doubt, however, respect- 



