2M Application of Terrestrial Heat 



season, being moderate attention to shading in the outset, air, 

 and watering ; the latter application being, at proper intervals, 

 freely and liberally supplied. Throughout the summer months 

 a single fire at night was generally sufficient to keep up the requi- 

 site charge of temperature in the chamber below. The mean 

 temperature of the bed of soil above was about 90° of Fahren- 

 heit. Never, in the whole course of my observation or expe- 

 rience, have I witnessed a more interesting progress than the 

 growth of the plants alluded to. In less than six months from 

 the time of planting they had attained a strength and luxuriance 

 equal to the best two-year-olds I have ever seen grown in 

 pots, their leaves in many instances being upwards ot 4 in. in 

 breadth.* 



In consequence of not having it in our power to get up a 

 second range of pits according to the original plan (both being to 

 be heated by one small boiler), in sufficient time last autumn to 

 receive the above-described plants after being potted, as was 

 intended, in September or October, the said plants were left in 

 their summer position throughout the winter ; and, having been 

 lately carefully lifted and potted, are now placed in their fruit- 

 ing-quarterSj namely, my " stove for various purposes." 



I saw the pine-growing at Versailles. When I visited France 

 in 1838, I was struck with the excellence of the principles of 

 cultivation practised there, as well as its extent. I was favoured, 

 through the polite attention and kindness of M. Massy, di- 

 rector-general of the royal gardens, with a minute inspec- 

 tion of its details, which^I thus most gratefully acknowledge. 

 There is, undoubtedly, excellent pine-growing in England, and 

 in Scotland too ; but nothing to exceed what I there witnessed. 

 It is, then, the application of the same principles of culture that 

 I am pursuing in connexion with hot water (at Versailles it is 

 chiefly with dung heat). I am endeavouring to reduce the 

 system to the easiest and simplest practice, which I shall shortly 

 go over. 



For the growth of the plants, I provide the above-described 

 pits, which may be in two or more ranges or divisions, ac- 

 cording to the quantity of fruit required. In February or 

 March, the crowns and suckers are arranged as described. 

 They remain in growth under a high temperature in a close 

 moist atmosphere, without check or interruption (if ordi- 

 nary attention is paid to shading, air, watering, &c. ), until the 



* The late lamented Mr. West, who was one of the most intelligent and 

 discerning horticulturists in Ireland, one who had seen much, and could well 

 appreciate pine growing ; with all the frankness and candour for which he 

 was so remarkable, admitted to me that he had never before witnessed such 

 a result, and had actually authorised me thoroughly to remodel his pitting 

 arrangements, when he was suddenly called away from the midst of life and 

 usefulness. In him gardening has lost a zealous and ardent patron. 



