Construction of Melon, Pine, and Plant Pits. 457 



few years since we should have looked in vain for those large 

 and fine varieties of calceolarias exhibited every year by Mr. 

 Green at the horticultural exhibitions ; and, had any florist 

 predicted such changes, he would have been considered by his 

 brethren as nothing more nor less than a madman. 



Varieties are often produced, however, without reference to 

 the circumstances above-mentioned, though they constitute the 

 principles on which florist's flowers are produced. The other 

 causes which often produce variations from the normal type of 

 species are, climate, exposure, heat, cold, and winds ; but the 

 effects resulting from these circumstances are rarely of long 

 duration when the individual is removed from the influence of 

 one of them; and, consequently, they cannot be considered when 

 treating of florist's flowers, and the reasons for their changes. 



Canterbury, July, 1842. 



Art. VIII. On the Construction of Melon, Pine, and Plant Pits, 

 voith Details, &jc, and general Remarks. By J. R. 



As you yourself first impressed me with the wholesome lesson 

 of never considering myself incompetent to the investigation of 

 any likely subject, you must not now be surprised at finding me 

 treating of one so much out of my line. But the fact, that, in 

 many gentlemen's gardens, while the show and fruiting-houses 

 are complete and perfect in every respect, the pits are sadly 

 neglected, has often struck me, and forcibly reminded me of the 

 condition of the lower classes ; for I look upon those fine houses 

 as being equally dependent upon the humble pits for their 

 grandeur, as the aristocracy are for their trappings of state 

 upon the industrious and laborious part of the community. 

 Then, let the proud and mighty conservatory, with its borrowed 

 plumes, listen to the simple story of the construction of the pit. 

 Let the gay and gaudy greenhouse suffer its more humble sup- 

 porter to enjoy a passing glance from the public eye : and, while 

 the extensive peach-house (with its majestic occupant, stretching 

 his sinewy limbs over an immense space) must not despise its 

 lowly neighbour, the luxuriant vinery, with its luscious grapes, 

 and glowing in all the pride of use and beauty, should reverence 

 its foster-mother, the pit. In fact, to neglect the pit is sheer in- 

 gratitude ; and as bad as a breach of the fifth commandment. 



I shall at once discard the tottering shattered frames of rotten 

 wood, and come direct to the substantial pit of bricks and mortar. 

 I have no pretensions as to the management of pits, only as to build- 

 ing them. Where ground is liable to.be flooded, as is frequentlv 

 the case here, the pits must only be sunk 12 or 15 inches below 

 the general surface, and a drain made along the centre, of brick 



