The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-11-14
a Pit for Preserving Tender Plants

a Pit for Preserving Tender Plants
Through the Winter-Aow to Make.
On every place, large or small, where
there is any interest taken in flowers or
other ornamental plants there should be a
well made pit if means do not justify the
possession Of a green house. A pit costs
very little compared with the pleasure and
profit it gives in return. Admitting that
there is no pecuniary profit obtained from
IL, still is there not profit in giving pleasure
e. ones family and ones self and this must
follow the possession of a pit II it is utilized
In the way that it should be9 OF course it
can be used for the very practical purpose
Of raising vegetable plants for the garden
and for roofing various useful plants.
Where one can get bricks cheaply we
would advise their use in preference to
planks for aklnR the wall of the pit above
the soil, but where planks are more con-
venient and cheaper they can be used very
satisfactorily for the purpose.
Select high, dry spot for the location of
the pit. If protected from the north and
northwest winds by building, all the bet
ter, but by no means is it essential. Lay Off
the pit s feet wide and as long as may be
desired. Where only a small collection of
plants is kept 10 feet will be long enough,
hut it can be made 100 feet if desired.
Dig Quito depth of five feet throwing
the soil as far out as three feet SO as to have
it out of the way in making the frame.
Trim down the sides Of the pit as evenly as
possible For the frame work Cfor 10-foot
pie four substantial posts will be sufficient,
two for the back panel and two for the
front. The end of the posts should be
squared and should merely rest upon the
soil. Use scantling to make the panels,
morticing 1t in evenly. The back or DOrth
panel should be four feet high and the front
panel two feet Building the frame a half
foot from either edge will give distance Of
nine feet for the width of the frame, which
will accommodate sash ten feet long for the
cover and If these sash are three feet wide
it will require three of them for the top in
addition to one l2-inch plank at each end.
For large part of the year a vanished
cloth cover all IN one piece will answer
about as we'll as glass. In fact pit should
be provided with a cloth cover in
addition to glass cover, for in
our climate even In the winter
time the SUI shines too warmly oftentimes
through the glass for the good of the plants.
After the severe weather is over the glass
sashes can be dispensed with altogether.
using only the cloth as a protection from
any frosty nights or beating rains. On
all balmy days the cover should be thrown
back fully, SO that the plants can baSk in
the fresh air. The varnlshed cloth cover
comes in very handy at another time, too.
II the weather threatens to be very severe
the cloth cover put on over the glass sashes
lusures additional warmth inside during the
night and modifes the sun'srays in the day
time, thus preventing any great range of
temperature all Of a sudden. All Gudden
changes are to be guarded against.
after the walls of the pit have been made
the soil that was taken out Of the pit should
be thrown back and banked UP against the
walls in such manner as to turn away all
water readily from the pit. Where the
walls are made of plank they should run
up and down and be pressed closely
together and the joints Slated, Make Cbe
frame as close as possible, stopping all cracks
With plaster or putty. Make narrow,
closely-atting door at the back.