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LVII. Description of Stoves for the growth of Melons and 

 Cucumbers. In a Letter to the Secretary. By Mr. John 

 Haythorn, Gardener to the Lord Middleton, F. H. S. 

 at Wollaton Hall, near Nottingham. 



Read February 21, 1826. 



Sir, 



In compliance with your desire, I send you the plans and 

 sections (See Plate VIII.) of the houses or stoves in which I 

 grow Melons and Cucumbers at this place, and can assure 

 you that the mode of cultivation practised in them, answers 

 well. Figure 1, shows the ground plan of the two stoves 

 which adjoin each other ; figure 2, is the section of that on 

 the west, in which Melons are grown ; figure 3, is the section 

 of the eastern stove, which is used for Cucumbers. The 

 stoves are each twenty-three feet long, and nine feet wide 

 within the walls. The outside walls are six feet and a half 

 high, and are sunk very considerably below the level of the 

 outer soil ; the ground being uneven in which these stoves are 

 built, the height of the walls above the ground line, varies 

 from three feet to fourteen inches.* The descent into the 

 stoke-holes, in which are the fire places, is from the back, and 

 the doors into the stoves open from these stoke-holes. The 

 flues pass from the fire place along the front by one end and 

 the back of the house to the chimney, which is close to the 

 steps which lead into the stoke-hole. Between the flues and 



* Provided the bottom be dry, it is an advantage to sink these stoves below 

 the level of the earth ; they are much warmer in consequence. 



