458 



Construction of Melon, Pine, and Plant Pits. 



on edge, with bricks flat crosswise covering it ; but in ordinary 

 high and dry situations they should always be sunk 2 or 3 feet 

 below the general surface, and a cavity also cut that depth for 

 the linings, which will better retain the heat and be more conve- 

 nient for working. 



Fig. 41. is a section of a cucumber and melon pit, sunk 2 ft. 



Fig. 41 . Section of a Cucumber and Melon Pit. 



6 in. below the surface. Of course where such pits are built, 

 the length will depend on the demand for the produce. The 

 front and back walls are built in the pigeon-hole manner, of the 

 height shown, and a vacuity is left between them and the brick- 

 on-edge divisions. I have shown a trellis in this section resting 

 on the bricks covering the vacuities, on which the fruit is to 

 rest, to keep it from lying on the soil in the general way. In 

 the section, a is filled in with rough wood, on which is placed 

 a layer of dung to prevent the soil (b) from falling through ; or it 

 might be filled in with rough rubble stone, built in the Cyclo- 

 pean fashion, with air vacuities, as being more durable, c is the 

 trellis; d, the vacuity; e, the linings, and^/J the ground level. 

 A stone shelf may be placed over the vacuity at the back part, 

 for holding strawberries in fruit, or similar productions requiring 

 plenty of air, as shown. The lights are at an angle of 12° to 

 the horizon. In addition to melons and cucumbers, a pit such 

 as this, with the trellis removed and the earth filled up higher, 

 would be very suitable for the growth of early potatoes, sea-kale, 

 asparagus, &c. I am told, by first-rate practical gardeners, that 

 this sort of pit is of the best possible construction for the purpose 

 intended. 



Fig. 42. is a pine-pit, in which are shown the rough wood or 

 rubble, soil, pigeon-holes, linings, level of ground, &c. This 

 pit is suitable either for growing pines in their first stages or 

 fruiting state. In the back part of this pit, I should also have a 

 shelf of wood, supported by small iron brackets, for holding pots 

 containing vines or other plants, as shown. The upright lines 

 within the walls represent piers under each alternate rafter, 

 formed by transverse bricks, to strengthen the walls, as they are 

 built of only 4^ brick. This pit being necessarily larger, and 



