FORCING DEPARTMENT. 36J 



under the pipes, and also through the arches, to the ex- 

 terior borders. The interior width of the house is 12 

 feet in the clear ; a pit is formed in it, for forming a 

 bed of leaves, or dung, to produce a moist heat, for the 

 assistance of the breaking of the Vine-buds. These 

 pits, when filled with fermenting' substances, are 

 very useful for the accelerating Strawberries, French 

 Beans, Figs, or even the Pine Apple, any of which 

 may be brought to perfection in this department 

 without injuring the Grapes. The roof of this range 

 is also constructed with cast-metal, copper, and 

 wood, as illustrated in Plate 18. The rafters, wall- 

 plates,, and spouting, are all cast-metal. The frames 

 of the lights are composed of wood, and the Astragals, 

 or small bars, of copper^ which combination of mate- 

 rials forms a very durable, light, and elegant roof. 

 The front sashes are all made to open outwards, 

 which is done by means of a pivot, and fastened on 

 the outside by a key, so as to prevent their being 

 blown open by the wind, or without the latch-key. 

 The lower tier of roof lights are all fixtures, and only 

 every alternate sash in the upper range is made to 

 run, in order to admit air. There is, also, a ventila- 

 tor placed under every alternate or fixed sash of the 

 top tier, which communicates with the openings in 

 the top of the wall, whereby a free currency of air 

 may be admitted into the house in wet weather, 

 without sliding down any of the sashes. In short, 

 a free circulation of this element may be, at all times, 

 admitted, by opening these ventilators, and the front 

 lights, which, except in very sultry weather, will be 



