20 



the tank system to pine growings it must be remem- 

 bered that no plan can be regarded as complete which 

 does not provide a perfect command of atmospheric 

 moisture. It must be borne in mind that the mois- 

 ture arising from a fermenting body is very consider- 

 able, and that, at least, an equivalent should be pro- 

 vided. For this purpose it would suffice to have a 

 cemented gutter in the front of the house or pit, on 

 the bottom of which the lower or return pipe should 

 rest. By having a permanent supply of water ready 

 to turn on by a tap at one end, the bottom pipe could 

 be immersed in water at any time in the course of a 

 quarter of an hour. A discharge plug should also be 

 provided at one end, to run off the water into a drain 

 w^hen necessary. The admission of air at front is a 

 consideration ; if the point of ingress could be so ar- 

 ranged as to be immediately over the piping, the air 

 v/ould be charged with moisture as it entered, and in- 

 stead of ascending immediately to the roof, to descend 

 in drip, might be made to pass through the plants. 

 (Gard, Chron, 1846, 580.) 



Ventilation, and, what is equally necessary, and 

 not identical, free circulation of air, is of great im- 

 portance for securing the health of pine apples. 

 They should have a little air every day, it being far 

 better to keep them in a temperature sufficiently high 

 to allow of air being given them, than to keep them 

 shut up in a damp atmosphere, at a low temperature. 



