The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1877-10-17
THE HOUSEHOLD.
Gold Pits for Plants,

At this season of the year when "wailing
winds andnaked woods" herald the approach
of winter, every true lover of flowers looks
with dismay at the array of pot plants which
she has collected, especially if there is no par
ticular room in the house which can be de-
voted to their service, and the windows ofpar-
ior, dlning-room, and even of sleeping rooms
flor fully believe that plants, in a healthy,
growing condition, will contribute rather
than take from the health of the sleepea),
must be fitted up with shelves 10 hold them.
Then the idea of cold pit is gladly embraced
as an inexpensive substitute for greenhouse
or conserv tory. For this purpose we must
select location as near the house as posi-
BILE, and if it can be placed on the southeast
side, under or near the kitchen or dining
room, it will be more accessible, but if such a
position is not available choose sheltered
spot in the garden, under fence or hedge,
which will shelter it from the north wind.
The pit should then be dug from six or eight
to ten feet in length, and from three to four
in width, placing it from east to west. Ex-
cavate it to depth of five or six feet, and
then drive down strong posts, which can be
made of the body of tree about five inches
in diameter, or of any kind of well-seasOned
lumber. Nail Stats across the posts from
side to side as near the earth as will admit of
mailing thin pine boards closely together.
and put on another lining of boards, making
space of about six inches all around the pit
which must be filled up with spent tan or
stable litter. The former is better for not
harboring insects and worms. 1t is needful,
however, to make the pit slope from the
back to the front; therefore the back posts
should be nearly u foot higher than the front
ones, giving it a slanting roof, which should
be formed of two parts, securing the sashes
or ip frop, hu bipuac at bo
only one part of them need be lifted at once.
But if the pit is quite long a middle sash
fastened with hinges at the top of the frame
may be required. Now the pit is made, and
the next thing to be done is to prepare it for
the plants.
To do this, fill 1t to the depth OF six or
eight inches with powdered or finely broken
up charcoal Ia little gravel can also be mixed
with it,, and foot of coal ashes or spent
tan, thrown in upon it. In this sink the
pots of flowers. But if you prefer to plan.
them in the pit, so as to put in more small
plants, throw in a good rich but sandy loan,
instead of the ashes or tan. Yet to plunge
the pots is usually preferable, for when they
are ready to blossom they can be brought
into the parlor to ornament the windows.
The chief objects to be secured in the build
ing OF cold pit are warmth, light, good ven
tilation and freedom from mold; these at
tanned the plants will be sure to thrive. The
pit should be made before the weather be-
comes so severe as to freeze the ground, and
it must be we'll banked up on the outside
with stable litter, tan or straw, and thick
layer of hemlock boughs will make the best
covering for the roof, as they have SO much
turpentine in them that they resist the frost.
Tightly fitted window shutters of wood must
be placed over the sashes and secured with
hinges before the hemock boughs are laid
over them. IT the latter cannot be easily
procured, old pieces of carpeting or thick
straw mating will do, and they can be kept
tightly over them during the coolest cloudy
weather of December and January. On no
account should the sashes be opened when
the mercury marks below AZ deg. But
when the sun shines warm and bright and
the mercury is at 4S or so deg, or higher,
the whole top can be thrown open for an
hour or so-or at any rate as long as the
snow melts on the house. But always
let the sun shine on the sashes even
if the outer air is cold, taking care
to cover them early in the attern )on.
Then is a good time to give the plants close
examination, removing all withered leaves,
and giving the soil good watering with
mild stimulant, such as can be made with
one tablespoonful of carbonate of ammonia,
and one Ut nitrate of potash, dissolved in
guanc, dissolved in the same quantity of
water. If small white worms appear on the
surface of the pots, put twelve drops of the
strongest carbolc acid to one quart of water,
and water the soil freely. This is sure death
10 them. If mice have found out what a
snug home the pit can be made for them,
scatter bits of copperas around the tan or
ashes and they will leave. A slight sprink-
ling of unslacked lime over the tan will also
keep them away and destroy any mould that
may form on the pots. 1t is also an excel
lens fertilizer, if applied to soil in weak solu-
ton, being beneficial to roses, geraniums and
fuschias.
In such pit as 1 have described, prim-
roses, pansies and violets will bloom all the
winter, while excellent lettuce and radishes
can be raised by scattering the seeds in the
tan. Begonias, bouvardias, fuchsias, hello
tropes, roses, geranjums, ETC., will all grow
luxuriantly, and by February OF March will
be in great beauty, and fully compensate you
for the expense of the pit, and the labor they
have required. If brick can be more easily
procured than boards, the whole thing can be
made of them, well mortared together.
N. 7. Times.