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holes of the pots, and appear like a white net even 

 amongst the wood. The linings are built up to the 

 very summit of the pit all the winter, but not turned 

 lower than the solid wall to the first row of pigeon 

 holes : this answers the purpose of sun, or atmos- 

 pheric heat from fire, by drying up the internal 

 humidity throughout the dark short days, as the heat 

 is principally thrown in above the plants and ferment- 

 ing materials, which acts the part of both sun and 

 fire heat in the most complete manner. As we gain 

 light and solar heat, the linings are turned to the bot- 

 tom, which is generally filled, all the winter, and trod 

 in firmly, with dry leaves from the bottom to above 

 the top row of pigeon holes. For the purpose of 

 commanding a kindly humidity and heat throughout 

 the interior, both at bottom- and top, a cavity is left 

 at the side of the pit, and strait straw or brushwood 

 placed against the top row of pigeon-holes to keep the 

 cavity from being choked up, which can be moved or 

 removed with little trouble, to admit of a free circula- 

 tion all over the interior of the pit of heated humid 

 air : it answers the purpose admirably. By some 

 cultivators it has been recommended to cure an excess 

 of bottom heat, by pouring about the fermenting ma- 

 terials abundance of water ; — this certainly is a fair 

 way of establishing one excess for the other. If it was 

 performed in due time to save burning the roots by 

 its application, the question is, whether oftentimes 



