51 



plants reached the glass, pieces of wood about four 

 inches thick and a foot in height, made secure at the 

 corners by means of small bolts, might be raised upon 

 the wall beneath the frame-work. Upon the top of 

 each piece of wood there should be a groove, in which 

 the bottom of each succeeding tier would fit. Each 

 division of the pit being separate, the frame- vvork 

 might be taken off whenever it w*as necessary to add 

 another tier ; and the top of the pit being built 

 but little above the level of the ground, these tiers of 

 wood might be continued to the height of two or three 

 feet. Tt would not be necessary to raise the lining 

 higher that the top of the brick wall, as there would 

 no doubt be sufficient heat in the bed from the lining 

 and the hot water ; which latter, being in the cavity, 

 would warm the soil sufficiently. Boards made to 

 fit above this cavity would be beneficial in keeping 

 the dirt from falling down between the pipe and the 

 walls when mould was required in the pit. The boiler 

 and fire-place might be situated at one end of the pit. 

 {Gard, Chroiu 1843, 100.) 



Mr. Dale, gardener at Brancepeth Hall, near Durham, 



j gives some further directions for this mode of culture. 

 He says that the treatment, supposing the first fruit 

 to be cut, and the suckers and old plant growing away 

 in a vigorous state, should be as follows: — The 



' suckers to be reduced to one or two, according to the 

 health of the plant, and when the roots become much 

 E 2 



