Jan.] the HOT-HOUSE. 95 
be carried too near any part of the wood-work, lest it should take 
fire. 
Proceed now to set out the cavity for the bark-pit, first allowing 
a space of eighteen inches, or rather two feet wide round the front 
and both ends, and also a walk of two feet or two and a half, along 
the back wall for the convenience of walking, watering and attend- 
ing the plants; then in the middle space is formed the pit for 
the bark bed six, seven or eight feet wide, or whatever it may 
allow, and the whole length of the house, the end walks excepted, 
which is to be three feet deep and surrounded with a nine inch 
brick wall, coping it all round with a timber plate framed and mor- 
ticed together, which effectually secures the brick work: sometimes 
a four inch wall is made to do, as by such more room is gained in 
the pit; this will answer very well, but is not so permanent. 
The top of this pit ought to be exactly on a level with the front 
wall, and the bottom free from any lodgment of water at any sea- 
son, for it would soak up through the bark, destroy its fermenta- 
tion, and vender it useless; therefore this must be taken into con- 
sideration at the time of building the outside walls, when, if any 
dampness is apprehended, the front wall must be raised three feet 
above the level of the floor; if not, two feet will be sufficient, and 
the pit may be sunk twelve inches, the bottom of which must be 
well paved with brick or stone to prevent the bark coming in con- 
tact with the earth, which would cause it to cool and rot suddenly. 
The walks round the pit must be neatly paved either with brick 
or cut stone, this being very necessary for the convenience of per- 
forming the occasional operations of culture, as well as to admit 
walking round to view the plants and gather the produce of such as 
yield any, as the pine apple and such other plants as are occasion- 
ally introduced for forcing their fruit to early perfection. 
The timber framing and glass work for enclosing the whole, 
will consist of a close continued range of glass sashes all along the 
front, both ends, or part of them, and the entire roof, quite up to 
the back wall; each sash, both for upright and roof lights being 
three feet six inches, or four feet wide; and for the support of 
which, a framing of timber is to be erected on the brick walling, 
conformable to the width and length of the sashes. 
For the reception of the perpendicular glasses in the front and 
ends, substantial timber plates are placed along the top of the walls, 
upon which is erected uprights, distant from one another the width 
of the sashes, framed into a plate or crown-piece above, of sufficient 
height to raise the whole front head high from the floor, both ends 
corresponding with the front and back; a plate of timber is also to 
be framed to the back wall above, to receive the sloping bars from 
the frame work in front; proper grooves being formed in the front 
plates below and above, to receive the ends of the perpendicular 
sashes, which are to be so contrived as to slide backward and for- 
ward, one beside the other, for the admitting of fresh air, «S:c. 
From the top of the upright framing in front, are to be carried 
substantial crossbars or bearers, sloping to the top of the back 
wall, where, being also a timber-plate, they are to be framed at both 
