372 



THE TROPICAL FRUIT STOVE. 



as may die, or require to be removed in course of time. The fruit- 

 bearing plants or trees should be set on or plunged in a bed of tan, or 

 leaves, or other fermentable matter ; this pit to be of the depth of not less 

 than eight or nine feet, both for the purpose of affording a powerful 

 bottom heat to such plants as most require it, and to enable the cultivator 

 to sink the plants as it may appear requisite, or when they press too much 

 upon the glass. 



A small span- roofed house might be used for a similar purpose, and one 

 according to the principle of the accompanying sketch might be con- 



sidered as a good example. In this house, the pit will occupy the centre, 

 and be of an equal depth to that proposed above, but having piers carried 

 up under the centre of the roof, as at a, upon which cast-iron pillars may 

 rest, at equal distances, for the support of the roof, and also to caiTV the 

 pipes for the hot water, which might be placed just above the level of 

 the bed. 



This mode of heating may be objected to by some, because the pipes are 

 placed in the centre of the house instead of towards the sides, which is 

 unquestionably the best position for repelling the cold. Our object is, that 

 as there are some Tropical fruit-bearing trees that require a greater degree 

 of heat than others, and as these are in general the largest or loftiest 

 growing ones, they of course occupy the centre or warmer part of the 

 house, as the heat will be given off from the pipes by radiation, to 

 the right hand as well as to the left, and also in a perpendicular direc- 

 tion. 



