92 



Although we are in favour of hot water in pipes 

 combined with fermenting materials as the best prac- 

 tical mode of heating structures devoted to the culture 

 of the pine apple, yet various other modes have been 

 proposed, from each of which we have selected that 

 one which we consider the most preferable example. 



Heat from Dung and other Fermenting matters. — 

 This is the cheapest mode of heating, and, if combined 

 with the following arrangement of the glass, proposed 

 by that accomplished horticulturist Mr. Paxton, forms 

 by far the most economical structure for pine-culture 

 that has been devised hitherto. He directs the pits 

 to be constructed of nine-inch brick on bed, 78 feet 

 long inside and 7 feet wide being a good size. Cover 

 the pit with a ridge and furrow roof, making the 

 space from the ground in front of the pit to the 

 valley-rafter 3 feet 6 inches, and the back wall be- 

 low the rafter 5 feet 6 inches. Divide the whole 

 length into four compartments, for growing the dif- 

 ferent sorts of plants, by 4|--inch brick-on-bed walls. 

 Divide the whole length of the. ridge and furrow-roof 

 into 12 bays, having a ventilator in the angle of each 

 pediment, as at d d. Now, to get to the plants, each 

 light is hinged at the valley-rafter, and fastened with 

 a thumb-button at the ridge-rafter. By referring to 

 the following figure it will be seen that the light or 

 frame leaves the ridge-rafter at a, in the direction 

 of b, and lies flat upon the next light at e. Each 



