Union and American. [volume] (Greeneville, Tenn.) 1875-1877, 1875-11-24
Pits tor Storing Plants in Winter.


A cold pit, as it is usually term
ell. is quite a useful structure about
= place in which TO keep half-hardy
plants over winter. The hot-b Il
sash may be used for covering them
il n person cannot afford TO have
two set5 Of these very useful adj
juncts to n good garden. AS the
heat TO he depended npon for pre-
venting freezing in winter is sup
piled mainly from the earth, it is
quite important that the pit should
be made in a dry, well-drained soil,
for il where water can enter il, the
entire object of the structure will
be defeated. If no dry, warm bank
OF earth is convenient, one may be
made; or, in other words, the walls
OF the PIT NAV be laid up from the
surface OF the ground and then
banked up to the very top with
earth drawn from a distance. But
these above ground pits arc far
more likely to freeze up than those
excavated in the natural soil, un-
less very thoroughly banked and
TO n good width. Brick or stone
are the best materials for the walls
for "a permanent structure of this
kind, but logs from the woods, split
timber, or even slabs from the sa W.
mill, may be used If the former is
Thought to he too expensive. The
width OF the pit is usually regula-
ted by the width of the sash used
for covering, but four or five feet
wil generally suit better than much
wider or narrower. OF course 1t
is immaterial how long the pit is
made, rs this will depend upon
what the pit is to be used for, As
well a. the quantity of plants to
be stored in it. The depth may be
varied 10 correspond with the eli
mate; the further north the exca-
walton the deeper it will have to be
To prevent freezing. Four to six
feet are not unusual depths even
when placed in n warm, protected
situation. The PIT should be plac-
ed facing the south, and the sash
covering them descending in the
same direction and in the same
manner AS in ordinary hot-bed.
Straw mats, or some such ma
t%erial, for a covering over the glass,
should also be provided, because in
very cold, cloudy weather, and at
night, protection will be necessary.
In bright, sunny days the mats are
removed to give light to the plants,
and also secure some solar heat,
eves in very cold weather.
In the middle States and further
south pits two to four feet deep
will answer every purpose that
deeper ones do ut the North. and
less heavy and expensive materials
will do for covering the glass. Al.
most any II a plan and build
. pit Of this kind to meet his wants,
and We al assure those who have
never used such q structure that
they viii be found quite convenient
and useful. The ladies will find
such pits good places in which to
store their large abu,ilons, oleand-
ers, and similar coarse, woody, but
tender. plants. They may be
either shaken out of the pots and
heeled-in Dr. plunged in the soil at
the bottom Of the pots. Even ger
aniums, %lantanas, bouvardias, aud
many other rather delicate plants,
may he kept safely through winter
in a good dry pit. by giving proper
ARE in the way of admitting air
and light occasionally, to prevent
mildew and rotting. During the
coolest weather the pit may be left
banked and covered with snow for
. week or two at a time without
serious injury TO its contents; still,
il 10 well to uncover and give light
and air as often as IL can be done
with safety. Il is frequently the
case that the pits can be so arrang-
ed adjoining the house or barn that
ingrcss to them may be had through
. cellar, thereby avoiding the ne
cessity or opening them from the
outside during the coolest months.
Next to the hot-bed, the cold-pit ID
one OF the most useful adjuncts to
the flower and vegetable garden,
and il costs but little beyond the
labor Of neutrality-suspicious. New
Yorker.