96 THE HOT-HOUSE. [Jan, 
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 render 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-continuedTange 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 uptight 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, &c. 
From the top of the upright framing in front, are to be carried 
substantial cross-bars or bearers, sloping to the top of the back 
wall, where, being also a timber-plate, they are to be framed at both 
ends into these plates, at regular distances, to receive and support 
the slope- glasses of the roof, placed close together upon these cross- 
bars or rafters; or these rafters may be formed so as to have a par- 
tition of one inch and half between the glasses, on top of which is to 
be placed a slip of board, four inches wide, to prevent the rain 
working down along the edges of the sash frames: these rafters 
must be narrowed on the under side, the better to admit the rays of 
light and heat. 
The lights are to be laid on, in two ranges or tiers, sliding one 
over the other, of sufficient length together, to reach quite from 
the top of the upright framing in front, to the top of the back wall: 
if these lights be placed close together, the rafters must be grooved 
lengthwise, above, to carry off the wet which may fall between 
them; making the upper end of the top tier, shut close up to the 
