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LXXXIII. Notice of a Pit for fruiting Pines and Melons, with 

 Observations on the Production of Seeds of Pine Apples. In 

 a Letter to the Secretary. By Mr. William Buck, Corre- 

 sponding Member of the Horticultural Society; Gardener to 

 the Honourable Fulk Greville Howard, F.H.S.&c. 

 at Elford, near Lichfield. 



Read June 5, 1821. 



Sir, 



I s omit to the consideration of the Fellows of the Horti- 

 cultural Society apian of a Pit, which I erected for a gen- 

 tleman in this neighbourhood in the year 1815. My brother, 

 who lives with Lord Bagot at Blithfield, in this county, 

 afterwards built one forty feet long, on a similar plan, and 

 these are all that have as yet been constructed on the same 

 principle. They are found to answer admirably for Pines, 

 so much so, that this fruit forms and matures its seeds in 

 them more perfectly than in any other pit or stove with 

 which I am acquainted. 



When the pit is used for Pines, the warm air is admitted 

 amongst the plants through the checquered brick-work from 

 air flues which surround the fire flue. When Melons are 

 to be grown, the pit is necessarily filled so as to cover the 

 checquered brick- work ; when this is done, care must be 

 taken to cover the openings, into the air flues, so as to prevent 

 their being filled with the mould or dung; and when a crop 



