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THE ECONOMICAL ARRANGEMENT OF FORCING AND PLANT HOUSES. 
245 
SECTION OF FORCING HOUSE. 
REFEHENCE TO PLAN. 
A, Pathway. 
B, Bed for plants to stand upon, or be planted in. 
C, Sot-water pipes 3-inch diameter in house, 2-inch in pits. 
D, Sot-icatcr tank for bottom heat, heated by two 2-inch pipes. 
rock-work the -whole ■width of the house against the end -wall, leaving niches to be filled with suitable 
material for the cultivation of some of the finer kinds of Ferns, Mosses, and such Orchids as are likely 
to succeed in such a situation. By merely ojjening a communication on each side from the tank and 
heating-apparatus, the rock-work might be supplied with any amount of moisture or bottom heat ; 
and by simply placing a cistern of water above the level of the rock-work and over the boiler, silvery 
streams of warm water may be made to trickle over the tortuous track of the rock-work, finally 
refreshing the feelings, and ministering to the picturesque character of the scene, by terminating in a 
miniatm-e waterfall, the grateful rippling of which will do much to cheat visitors into the belief that 
the house is not so warm 
as the jproper cultivation 
of its occupants renders 
it necessary that it should 
be. 
" Oh ! but," remarks 
some adept in the art and 
mystery of growing Or- 
chids, "to do the various 
kinds justice, and pro- 
duce them in perfection, 
two houses are requii'ed." 
Granted; therefore, if you 
please, we will confine 
the Indian kinds to the 
house we have been speak- 
ing of, and by continuing 
the same heating arrange- 
ments, we will convert 
the greenhouse into a 
house for the growth of 
those kinds which are 
natives of Mexico and 
colder climates ; and thus, 
with one exception , which 
we shall point outanother 
time, we have arrange- 
ments as complete as the 
most fastidious could de- 
sire, where light, heat, 
and moisture are at com- 
mand, to do all that is 
required for the proper 
cultivation of this beauti- 
ful tribe of plants. In- 
deed, in the laconic lan- 
guage of one of the best 
gardeners in the country, these are " nice snug houses," suitable for plants of aU kinds ; and if 
Nature's journeyman, the gardener, only performs his part properly, success is certain. 
For the cultivation of Vines in pots, such houses would be perfect; and one of these houses, with 
the side pits to bring on successional plants, would produce grapes sufficient for a small family, and 
that for several months in the year. 
In the construction of this range of houses the position of the boiler is not indicated, but we pro - 
pose to fix it at the north end of the forcing-house, to heat the tanks, house, and pits, independently of 
each other, having stop-cocks or valves to each set of pipes, so as to work the whole or a part at the 
same time, as may be necessary. The greenhouse will be heated by continuing the pipes from the 
forcing-house, placing stop -cocks where the pipes enter the greenhouse. The pipes for siu'face heat are 
placed in a trough lined with cement, so that in case of need, when a very moist heat is requii-ed, 
water may be placed around the lower pipe to create moisture. The pipe for surface heat must be 
thi-ee inches in diameter, and those running through the tank for bottom heat, two inches. For the 
GROUND PLAN OP 
HOUSES AND PITS. 
Cold Pit. 
JTarm Pit. 
B 
B 
_ ^ 
B 
Gree}i-house. 
Hot-house. 
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B 
B 
Cold Pit. 
Warm Pit. 
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