41 



the pit, and the flat sides are rivetted iu three places, 

 at equal distances, and six inches apart, for the pots 

 to stand on. An iron bar extends the whole length of 

 the pit, with hooks fastened to it at the distance the 

 rows of plants are to be apart ; and this is made fast 

 to the back wall of the pit with flat-headed iron pins, 

 which go through the wall and the bar, and are 

 screwed tight in the inside of the pit with burrs ; on the 

 front wall of the pit double brackets are suspended 

 at the proper distances, and fastened inside of the 

 pit with nails made on purpose, so that thev cannot 

 move either one way or the other. These and the 

 iron bars are fixtures, but the rails are made to take 

 out and in, so as to be out of the way in emptying 

 and filling the pit. In plunging, the leaves are taken 

 out at one end of the pit, as deep as the bottom of 

 the brackets, and carried to the other to fill up with ; 

 the rails are then dropped into their places, and the 

 pots placed upon them, the shortest plants in front 

 and the tallest at back ; the leaves are then filled in 

 even with the top of the pots ; another row is then 

 placed the same as the first, and so on till the whole 

 is finished. As the leaves sink down more are added, 

 so as to keep them up to the top of the pot. The 

 advantages of this plan are these : — The plants are 

 always at the same distance from the glass ; there is 

 little trouble in plunging them, it being only necessary 

 to place them upon the rails, and push them along to 



