PINE AND MELON PITS. 
17 
lining, but by steam I have perfect command of the heat. I can turn 
it off and on at pleasure; by dung we have not that command, but it is 
useless giving you a long account. [ know you well understand the 
merits and demerits of a dung lining, suffice it to say that steam is 
more at command, and of less trouble, and the flags that cover the 
rubble makes a nice foot path, and gives a degree of neatness that is 
very pleasing. 
I have not drawn to a scale, but you will readily understand it. 
Our fire holes are sunk quite out of sight, and the flues are carried 
underground to a wall, and the pits sunk so much as to prevent any 
unsightly appearance. The front pits are sunk fourteen inches be¬ 
low the back ones, to prevent shadingthe front flues are covered 
with dished covers, and water is poured in at the ends which flows 
all the length. 
1 
' "T rTC" 
e e e e 
One boiler with stop taps and pipes on this principle would throw 
sufficient heat into twenty bark beds. My pipes run on the top ot 
the flues, and drop at the back of each pit; (a) is the boiler. The 
dotted lines on the ground plan show where the steam pipes are laid 
—they are one inch bore, and are perforated to allow the steam to 
escape into the pit, when necessary. ( b ) stop cocks, (c) fire holes 
sunk below the surface, and descended into by a flight of steps, (d) 
smoke flues, (e) chimnies to the smoko flues. (/) cavities or air 
flues, (y) paths filled up with rubble, (h) doors to admit air. (?) 
c 
» 
