SM ORNAMENTAL GARDENING. BOOK I. 



Stoves are of two kinds ; dry stoves, in which the plants 

 are grown in pots without being plunged in beds of earth or 

 bark ; and moist or pit stoves, in which the plants cultivated 

 are chiefly grown in pits ; or, beds of earth, or bark, the 

 individuals commonly inserted in pots, but sometimes merely 

 inserted in the soil. Dry stoves are kept of a temperature 

 in general between 55 and 70 degrees ; and moist stoves be- 

 tween 65 and 90 degrees. The most economical form is a 

 parallelogram, placed from east to west, of glass sashes on the 

 south side, roof, and ends, and masonry toward the north ; 

 but the most elegant and eligible for the plants is one placed 

 north and south, and of glass on all sides. Unless an inner 

 roofing is used, however, glass on all sides is precarious, espe- 

 cially in the northern parts of this island. Where the plants 

 are grown in pots and plunged in earth or bark, the pits are 

 made of considerable depth to admit of those materials, as in 

 the culture of pines ; but pits filled with earth, and treated in 

 the manner proposed by me for growing the pine, are at 

 first sight so decidedly preferable, both with regard to beauty 

 and economy, that no unprejudiced person, who understands 

 the plan proposed, will reject it for stove plants, though he 

 might even reckon it unfit for growing pines. 



Green-houses. — To the general form of these the above 

 remarks are equally applicable ; and the particulars of their 



