The pits are sunk in the ground to the sill of the sashes in front, and within eighteen inches, or two feet of the sill behind. In all of them, the tan is inclosed by brick walls; they are generally about seven feet wide within walls, but some are as wide as fourteen feet, with the front wall six inches above ground, and the back wall two feet ten inches. The sashes in these broad pits are in two lengths, as in hot-house roofs; none of them have any flues, being all heated together, with the hot-houses, and various other descriptions of pits, by an extensive steam apparatus. This apparatus was erected by Mr. Mainwaring, of Blackfriars, and is one of the most complete of its kind, excepting in the circumstance of the steam-pipes having what are technically called _spigott_ and _faucet_ joints, which, it is alleged, are more apt, by their contraction and expansion, to allow the escape of the steam than the _flanched_ joints. The advantage of the former mode of jointing is, that the steam-tube contracts and expands in parts; and, of course, that this contraction and expansion must be very trifling on every part; whereas, when iron tubes are joined by flanches, they become, in effect, one tube; and the contraction, or expansion, takes place throughout their whole length. _Soil._ Good garden earth, enriched with well-rotted hot-bed dung; the soil of the open garden at Earlscourt, is a rich black loam, and seems to suit the Pine Apple as well as virgin earth brought from a distance. _General management._ Much the same as that of Mr. Andrews. Mr. Gunter tried to substitute the heat of steam for that of tan, as a bottom heat, but did not succeed. He formed a chamber, or vacuity of about six inches in depth, and covered it with perforated oak-plank; on this he placed the earth, in which, in some cases, he turned the plants out of the pots; and, in others, plunged the pots in the earth, or in rotten tan. The steam was admitted to fill the chamber; the quantity of heat imparted to the earth was very great, but, contrary to his expectation, no vapour ascended into the mould, which became excessively dry and husky; nor was he able, by frequent waterings, to keep it in a state fit for vegetation; the roots of the plants in it, in spite of every precaution, become shrivelled and dry. _Insects._ None of any consequence have yet appeared at Earlscourt, nor is it likely they will ever become numerous there, while steam is used. Were they to become ever so abundant, keeping the air of the house filled with steam for two or three days together, would effectually destroy them. _Fruit produced._ The object of every commercial gardener is to have some fruit ripening in every month of the year, but especially in winter, when the price is high. In summer great numbers are imported, or sent in from the hired-out gardens of country gentlemen, which greatly reduces the market value below the real value, or actual cost of production.