Meridian its for Horticulture or Floriculture. 289 



I had intended to say a iom words as to the advantao-e 

 I derived from having adopted an additional circulation round 

 the stove, which, although of small diameter, realised every 

 desideratum during the late frost. This circulation branches 

 from the main delivering pipe, close to the boiler, about 1 ft. 

 from which it enters the returning pipe, without passing 

 through the reservoir. There are stopcocks at each point of 

 junction, which enable you to command this addition of heat 

 in a few minutes. On a future occasion I may trouble you 

 with my ideas more at large on this subject. 



I am, Sir, &c. 



John Trevor Alcock. 

 Mount Hill, April 22. 1826. 



Art. XI. Description of Meridian Pits for the Purposes of Horti- 

 culture or Floriculture. By Mr. D. D. Neeve. 



Sir, 

 According to promise, 1 transmit the plans, elevations, 

 and sections of a series of three meridian pits. I do not send 

 them forth as a new invention, but as an improvement on an 

 old principle seldom practised ; which seems strange to me, 

 as they are decidedly superior to those generally adopted. 



Having frequently had occasion to visit noblemen's and 

 gentlemen's gardens and melon grounds, &c., I have as fre- 

 quently lamented that the pine, melon, and cucumber pits 

 should, on account of the unsightly appearance of the dung, 

 &c., be kept apart from the gardens, the proprietor thereby 

 losing the pleasure of seeing the pits when the plants are in 

 full blossom and fruit. 



Now, Sir, by adopting the improvement which I am about 

 to suggest, I think they would become an object of attraction 

 rather than not; and as some of your readers maynot under- 

 stand the drawings sent herewith, it may be advisable to give 

 a short description of them. 



Fig. 53. aaa represent plans for six pits; the spaces be- 

 tween each, being filled with dung to a given height, may then 

 be covered with planks, the centre of which should have a 

 small cast-iron channel [b h) to take off the rain and drip 

 from the pits, by which means the walks may be kept per- 

 fectly dry. To make it more complete, the planks should be 

 covered with gravel, which would not only bestow a natural 

 appearance, but also would prevent the heat escaping except in 

 the pits ; and the dung would retain its heat much longer by 

 being excluded from the external atmosphere, c c are pipes 



Vol. VII. — No. 32. u 



