WINTER PROTECTION 



Ci/lisus C(i>nin\ Hsis. unless the \\iK"»le immL' is ^lass. A 

 pit like tliis lias always been uscil in tln^ Anmhl Ai1m>- 

 retum for wiiiteriii,:^- scedliiii^s, routed eulliiii;'s and 

 , i^rafts.— young stoek grown in Hats but to() delicate fur 

 the open ground. The arrangement of sliolves slmwn 

 ill the diagram gives storage to large numbers of i'hesr 

 small plants. 



In No. 4 is sliown a small plant cellar, mure expnisive 

 but with bftter capacity for hirge plants. It should run 

 north and south, and. excepting the glass roof, is whuUy 

 below ground, and conseeiucntly extremely well prote«'trd 

 against frost. The door is at either end or side. By 

 taking advantage of sloping ground it is possible to 

 enter on the ground-tloor level, whioli is important when 

 large jdants in tubs must be handled. In such eases a 

 concrete liuor may be built. The monitor ru.if provides 

 plenty of light and ventilation; wooden shutters cover 

 the glass in cold weather. This form of pit is not onlv 

 well adapted to plants, but also is excellent for storing 

 vegetables and fruits. The forms of buildings larger 

 than those above described vary much with ^liffereut 

 circumstances. Sometimes the cellar of a stable, tonj- 

 house or other outbuilding can be utilized. The ehiid' 

 consideration is ]>ro- 

 tectiiju against frust, 

 hut provision must be 

 made for thorough ven- 

 tilation, and against a 

 too high temperature 

 in the autumn an<l 

 early spring. It is be- 

 cause it is hardly \ 

 sible to provide f 

 these matters th t 

 dwelling-liouse cell i 

 do not make good \ 

 they cannot be . ti 

 ciently ventilated t 

 keep the temper; t 

 low eiutugh excel ^ i 

 the middle of winte 

 Growth is incited an 

 cannot be mainta 1 

 owing to lack of 1 1 



Co)isfruc(io}i of tl 

 Pits. — Owing to then 

 position, pits cann t 

 well be made of w i 

 plank and cedar posts 

 lasting from 4-6 years 

 only. For large pits, stone and brick are most eco- 

 nomical for walls and ceilings; for small ones concrete 

 probably makes the cheapest and best wall. At the 

 Bussev Institutiuu the concrete walls of several small 



WINTER PROTECTION 



V.iS:i 



witlh 



pits liave stood 10 or 12 



si^li o£ iloterioraliou. It i^ iiol iicressary to \isf 



pricTd Porthuiil oouifuts, Ijucausc the stn'inures a 



2738. Nurseryman's cold pit. 

 -V chuap device for wintering jiljiiits that regiiii-e ■ 

 little lisilit. 



imtiaratively 



ctired against frost by the winter protection required for 

 their contents. An excavation of the reijuired dimen- 

 sions is made, vvitli due aUowance for tlie walls. Inside 



lit 



u 



11 Tin 

 1 e \V 



I 



1 



> de cellar n wh ch to store roots and tuoe . 

 pots of resting stuff. 



It 1 

 t e 



1 



irrv a 

 1 the ce- 

 n It is 



t makp 

 a comjiN'te "franie fur 

 the whuh- pit at once; 

 ides can be built tirst, and the 

 ierve for the remainder.' The 

 dry one part of cement (a 



Deep pit budt hke a ^.oldframe for carrymg half hardy woody 

 plants over winter. 



one end and a half of both 



same franie reversed will s 



concrete is made by mixin, 



good brand can be obtained at about $1.20 per barrel) to 

 two parts of clean sharp sand. After a 

 tiiuruugh mixture, add enuui^h water tu 

 make a thick paste. Add to this paste 

 three parts (sometimes four are used} nf 

 ch-an gravel. Br(.iken stone is better l.iut 

 more expensive. No stones larger than a 

 goose egg should be used. The whole 

 shi")uld be completely and quite carefully 

 l.ilended with hoe or shovel until each 

 stone is coated. Throw this mass into 

 the space between the mobiing frame and 

 earth wall an<I settle c<>mpactly with a 

 rammer. It is nut advisalile to mix mr)re 

 than a barrel at once, nor so much as this 

 unless at least six men are employed. 

 C'-mtinuous batches are made until the 

 work is finished. When the top layers are 

 guing in. insert ^4-iii- iron bolts 6-8 in. 

 long at intervals of sis ft. These secure 

 the wooden sills. In warm dry weather 

 the frames can be removed within tweidy- 

 four h<.mrs or less, but first examine c;u'e- 

 fnlly the condition of the cement. Aft<T 

 removal, smooth off any roughness ami 

 grout in with a whitewash brush a c<iat of 

 Rortland cement mixed with water, but 

 without sand, thus obtaining a good color 

 and a more humogeneons surface. Eor 

 several davs the work should be shaded 



12.3 



