THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN’S COMPANION, June 9, 1857. 149 
H. L. Mich oils, Esq,, for a bouquet of Orchids, cut 
flowers. 
T. Bell, Esq., for four bouquets of cut flowers, beautifully 
arranged. 
Mr. R. S. Yates, nurseryman, for a fine bouquet of cut 
Hoses. 
C. C. Worsley, Esq., and Mr. R. S. Yates, for Apples. 
Both in excellent keeping condition. 
Josh. Railton, Esq., for a fine dish of Mushrooms. 
S. Brooks, Esq., for a large Prince Albert Pine Apple. 
Duke of Sutherland, for a good dish of Peaches. 
C. Andrews, Esq., for a fine dish of Keens’ Seedling 
Strawberries. 
C. Andrews, Esq., for a fine dish of Sir Harry see.dling 
Strawberries. 
Mr. John Harrop, cottager, for a good Melon. 
Mr. W. Cutbush, for a collection of Ancectochili, viz., 
intermedia , xanthnphyllus, Lowii, cor data, argentea, and striata. 
Mr. G. Cunningham, nurseryman, Liverpool, for a cut 
specimen of a spotted seedling Rhododendron. 
H. Micholls, Esq., for four greenhouse Azaleas. 
W. Bradshaw, Esq., for four greenhouse Azaleas. 
W. Bradshaw, Esq., for one stove plant. 
H. Micholls, Esq., for one greenhouse plant. 
Mr. W. Cutbush, for six Cape Heaths. 
Mr. W. Cutbush, for a collection of new and rare plants, 
viz., Maranta regalis, Oxylobium Osbornii, Diffenbachia varie- 
gata, Tradescantia discolor, &c. 
J. Fallows, Esq., for eight stove and greenhouse plants. 
S. Brooks, Esq., for eight stove and greenhouse plants. 
A. Fairrie, Esq., for eight stove and greenhouse plants. 
II. Micholls, Esq., for four greenhouse plants. 
H. Micholls, Esq., for eight ornamental plants. 
R. T. Rufford, Esq., for a collection of cut Roses. 
GARDEN STRUCTURES. 
I was much pleased with two octagon vivariums or aqua¬ 
riums, each raised on a pedestal, and nearly five feet 
diameter. One was sent by Messrs. Sanders and Doughty, 
of London, and had a submerged rockwork in the centre. 
The sides above the pedestal are glass, through which 
various marine plants and zoophytes are visible. The 
second came from Mr. Alford, manfacturer, Portland Road, 
London. This was of the same form as the other; and in 
the water were scores of gold and silver fish of various 
ages all sporting about, and apparently quite happy and 
healthy. These stood as fixtures in the broad centre walk 
of the large glass-covered tent or building put up for exhi¬ 
bition purposes. 
Mr. Howard, builder, of Chesterfield, sent a very neat and 
useful kind of Wardian case, or miniature hothouse. It 
was heated by a small boiler, with a spirit lamp and 
one-inch zinc pipes. Inside were several fine Ferns in pots. 
Air was given by means of one of the centre lights sliding 
open when the interior air became too hot. I have no doubt 
such a case -would answer well for a light room or entrance- 
hall. 
In conclusion, I think great praise is due to the Council 
and their active and indefatigable Secretary for the liberal 
way in which this excellent Exhibition was got up, arranged, 
and carried out. I was informed that the sum set out for 
prizes was T300. This is the grand secret of obtaining a 
good exhibition. Give good prizes, and then good articles 
will be sure to be sent to compete for them. These fine 
j productions will bring a good company, and from them the 
means are then obtained to offer good prizes again. Thus 
all will work harmoniously together, ancl lessons of culture 
will be demonstrated palpably to cultivators, and the 
standard of excellence raised higher every year. 
The Judges were Air. Cunningham, of Liverpool; Mr. 
Fraser, Lea Bridge ; Mr. Spencer, Bowood ; Mr. Robinson, 
London ; Mr. W. Barnes, of Camberwell; and Mr. Foy, 
Chatsworth. T. Appleby. 
QUERIES AND ANSWERS. 
INSUFFICIENT HEATING OF PITS. 
“ I built a pit this spring with the intention of growing 
Melons according to Mills’ plan, but find that I cannot 
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obtain sufficient heat for the purpose. The accompanying 
sketch of section will show the principle. My boiler is a 
common cast-iron boiler, which, I suppose, has not power 
enough to heat the large body of water; and the con¬ 
sumption of fuel is so great that I fear it cannot answer as 
at present constructed. The pit is 23 ft. long by 6 ft. broad; 
the tank, going all round, is 9 in. wide and 8 in. deep. Will 
it answer my purpose to reduce the depth of the tank to 
3in., or must I have another boiler?”— A Subscriber. 
1. Glass light. 
2. Four-inch wall. 
3. Hot-air chamber, 2£in. 
4. Brick on edge. 
5. Hot-water tank. 
6. Pigeon-hole work to let heat 
into chamber 3. 
7* Boards laid across about one 
inch apart, over which is spread a 
little long litter to support 
8. Bed of earth. 
[Your pit is a very nice one, and is just such a one as I 
should like to grow Melons and Cucumbers in by dung heat, 
that dung being chiefly placed against the side walls, and an 
open place in the inside of the pit below the earth, or filled 
with rubble or stones, for receiving and retaining the heat 
from the outside linings. Where labour is plentiful, and 
manure likewise, fine results may be obtained from such a 
pit. Your case presents several features likely to be inter¬ 
esting to others as well as yourself. 
The question tanks versus pipes might by your case be 
farther elucidated if you would give us an account of the 
expense your tank and chambering cost you. A tank 
nearly 60 ft. in length, 9 in. wide, and 8 in. deep, with what¬ 
ever material constructed, must be rather expensive; and 
the securing a chamber all round communicating with the 
tank between the outside and internal wall, so as to give 
top heat to the pit, would also be an additional expense. 
As, however, a tank four inches deep, or even three, would 
have answered your purpose quite as well, the difference in 
expense from a shallower tank may also be taken into con¬ 
sideration. Now, as by the tank system you have no divisions, 
but heat your pit throughout at once, so the same fact 
should be kept in mind in estimating the expense of pipes. 
Two three-inch pipes would give a sufficiency of top heat 
for such a pit, or two four-inch if forcing was commenced 
early, say about Christmas, or before; and two three-inch 
pipes would do for bottom heat. These might be used 
together, or independently of each other. It would next 
be necessary to ascertain for what these could be bought 
and fixed. If the bottom pipes were encased in rubble, 
brickbats, &c., there would be no occasion for flooring of 
any kind over them. Any simple means of getting water 
amopgst that rubble will always secure moist bottom heat, 
and moist top heat likewise, though that could also be 
secured by evaporating pans fixed on the top pipes. There 
seems to be a deficiency in securing this atmospheric moisture 
when necessary, which you could easily obtain by stop plugs, 
to open at pleasure, at the top of your chamber, back and 
front (3). 
Kind and setting of boiler. —So far as I understand your 
description, with the exception of the flanges for a flow and 
return pipe your boiler differs little from a fair-sized do- 
