THE CUCUMBER. XV 



is to be obtained by a good arrangement of the tank 

 system. I have long held the opinion that hot water, 

 judiciously applied, would be equal to fermenting 

 material : and it is doubtless the want of a proper 

 application, where it is not. The quantity of heat for 

 a short period is not of so much importance as the 

 quality of that heat, as, if impure, few plants will live 

 m it ; but if sweet, and neither too arid or humid, 

 plants generally will luxuriate in it. 



The annexed plan of Mills's improved pit, heated by 

 Burbidge and Healy's boiler and tanks, will be found 

 to answer every expectation that can be formed of it. 

 As in it the heat is regularly diffused, every part of it is 

 heated by the method above described, that is, neither 

 too dry or the reverse. It is well adapted for the 

 propagation and cultivation of fruits or flowers — the 

 two essential elements of cultivation, heat and moisture, 

 being completely under the control of the cultivator. 



The directions for performing all other operations in 

 their culture, will be the same in every respect as those 

 given in my book for the pit heated by fermenting 

 material. The pit has been seen by one of the most 

 scientific men of the day, and it is pronounced by him 

 to be the ne phis ultra of pit building. 



It is very easy of management, in consequence of the 



