On regulating the Heat of Pineries. 365 
guarded against, by fires apportioned to the size of the house, and its 
capacity for heat. Bragazzi's Bark-bed Thermometer, [fig. 55] descri- 
bed by Loudon, in the Gardener's Magazine, {I 
think of last year,) is recommended as a simple and 
accurate instrument for the measuring the heat of the 
bark bed. It may easily be constructed, by fixing 
the tube of a common thermometer, in a piece of 
wood, (box or yew tree,) thus, [fig. 56] and copy- 
ing the scale accurately on the flat side. I will only 
add upon this subject, that being myself a novice in 
Pine culture, and having arranged the above scale 
for a working gardener, with a view to regulate a 
small house, in which fruiting and succession plants 
are grown, I shall be glad of the remarks of your 
more experienced correspondents. 
Before I conclude, perhaps you will allow me to 
trouble you with a few hints on the following sub- 
jects, which have fallen under my observations, and 
may be useful to some of your readers. 
1st, I have found that coal ashes, so generally re- 
commended, in old books on gardening, for covering 
Sea-kale in winter, causes canker at the roots, and if 
continued for many years, will destroy the plants. 
Saw dust or leaves, are far preferable. 
2nd, I find that washing the plaiits of early Cu- 
cumbers every morning, with a syringe, very eflPec- 
tual in preventing canker and corrosion from the \j 
steam which gathers on them at night. If done carefully, the mould 
need not be much wetted. 
3rd, I also find that draining-tiles, laid thus, [fig. 57] on any flat sur- 
face, (say, a thick sugar mat,) under the hills of Cucumber plants, will 
efl'ectually prevent them from over heat. The mould may 57 
indeed be kept to any degree of heat, by closing one, or 
more of the apertures, as required. If the dung is sweet, 
a bed made upon this plan may be earthed immediately, r- 
You allude, in your last number, for December, to Mr. 
Knight's plan of planting potatoes. Can you furnish us 
with a summary of it, in a future number.* 
I am, yours, &c., 
Worcester, Dec. 7, 1 83 1 . Vigorniensis. 
n 
u 
We will do so, at an early opportunity. CONDUCTOES. 
