By Mr. Alexander Stewart. 427 



without the vegetables suffering in the least ; and as a proof, 

 this winter I had plenty of fine Cauliflowers for the table till 

 the end of January, with a constant supply of Endive and 

 other vegetables. I never hesitate to lift the covers during 

 severe frost, to gather the vegetables as they are wanted, but 

 of course the pit is covered up again immediately after. 



When the winter crops are removed from the pit I pre- 

 pare it for the spring vegetables, such as Radishes, Lettuces, 

 Cauliflower plants, Celery, early Peas and Potatoes, all of 

 which I can get at least three weeks earlier in the pit than 

 on the open borders. I have also used it frequently to raise 

 tender annuals, and to protect Dahlias which have been potted, 

 previous to turning them out in the borders; and for any 

 half hardy plants in summer. I likewise use it for Ridge 

 Cucumbers, Vegetable Marrow, and New Zealand Spinach. 



A further detail would, I presume, be quite useless; much 

 less would have done for a practical Gardener ; to those 

 however who may think proper to make a trial of it, simple 

 as it is, I have no doubt but they will find it answer for all 

 the purposes to which I have applied it, and to many others, 

 should circumstances require. In the garden here there 

 are two of these pits, one an hundred, and the other about 

 sixty feet long, by three and an half feet wide, and a general 

 idea of their appearance may be formed from the perspective 

 view of a part of one of them which I have added. The 

 dimensions of the pits are given in the sections annexed to 

 this communication. The cost of the whole was trifling. The 

 wood of which the covers are made is common Scotch Fir rough 

 from the saw, and though in use for ten years it is still quite 

 vol. vi. 3 K 



