Account of Count Zubow's Steam-House. 431 

 Between the two pits, in the middle of the stove, is a small 

 square furnace, containing a copper boiler, from which a 

 copper steam-pipe is carried to each of the reservoirs. This 

 boiler is provided with the necessary apparatus, which, as it 

 is common to all machinery of this kind, need not be parti- 

 cularly described. From each side of the top of the boiler 

 the steam pipes branch off, furnished with valves, by which 

 the steam may be supplied to one or both, as occasion may 

 require : the usual practice is to keep the valve of one pipe 

 shut, until one of the beds is heated. The pipe is bent down 

 from the top of the boiler, and enters the reservoir beneath 

 the hot-bed, at about an inch below the level of the water, 

 and runs horizontally nearly to the end, diminishing in its 

 size as it advances. The pipe from the middle to the end, 

 is perforated with holes, to allow the steam, as it condenses, 

 to escape into the water. 



With a moderate fire, the heat of the water in the reser- 

 voir, will, in an hour and an half, be so considerable, that the 

 earth in the pit will be as high as 30° of Reaumur, above 

 99° of Fahrenheit), and this heat, with but little addition, 

 will be retained for some days. At the bottom of the reser- 

 voir, is a stop-cock, by which the water can be let off ; and 

 at the back are two openings, through which fresh water is 

 supplied. A few holes are also left in the wall of the pit, 

 between the level of the water, and the upper planking, 

 through which the superfluous heat may escape into the 

 house : these are closed, when necessary, with pieces of wood. 



In Count Zubow's house, the greater part of his Pines, 

 and other plants, are planted in the earth, without pots, and 

 nothing can exceed their cleanness, and luxuriance of growth; 

 neither spider nor any other insect is to be seen upon them. 



