LXXII. Description of the Steam Pits, in the Imperial Gar- 

 dens of Taurida at St. Petersburgh. In a Letter to the Secre- 

 tary. By Mr. Martin Miller Call, Gardener to His 

 Majesty the Emperor of Russia. 



Read February 22, 1820. 



Sir, 



A Member of the Horticultural Society, on his travels in 

 Russia, visited the Imperial Palace and Gardens of Taurida, 

 at St. Petersburgh, where I have the honour to serve as gar- 

 dener. By the particular request of this gentleman I send 

 you plans, with descriptions, of a method of giving a regular 

 degree of heat to the roots of Pine Apple plants or any 

 other tender exotic, by means of water heated by steam, an 

 improvement made by me on a plan* lately invented by 

 his Excellency Count Demetrius Zubow, of this city, 

 and which, to this time, has fully answered my most san- 

 guine expectations. 



I have had the steam applied for two months to a Pine 

 stove, the results of which I beg to lay before the Society, 

 and if they should deem it worthy their notice, I shall be 

 happy to inform them how it may succeed hereafter. 

 I am, Sir, 



with due respect, 



St. Petersburg ^ ^ S™ 1 ' 



December 10, 1819. Martin MlLLER CaLL. 



* See Horticultural Transactions, vol. iii. p. 430. 



