PISTOIE, the name formerly given to certain gold coins current in Spain, Italy, and several parts of Germany. The pistole was first used in Spain, and was originally equivalent to about 11 old French livres, but till 1728 it was merely an irregular piece of gold. From this time till 1772 its value was 17s.1d. sterling. But it was after this date decreased till it reached the value of SO seals, or 16s. 2d. sterling. The Italian pistoles were also gold coins, and varied considerably in value; that of Rome = 13s. 9d.; of Venice =16s. 21d. ; of Florence and Parma = 16s 10-1d.; and the old coin of Piedmont = 1, 2s. or 24 old liras. Gold coins of this name used to be current in Hesse-Cassel, Switzerland, Brunswick, and Hamburg, but were in most cases merely convenient mul tiples of the ordinary thaler and gulden. Of late years, and especially since the intro duction of new systems of coinage in Spain and Italy, and of a uniform system in the German empire, the name pistole is scarcely ever used.
PrSIIM. See PEA. PIT, in gardening, is an excavation in the ground, intended to be covered by a frame (q.v.), and to afford protection to tender plants in winter, or for the forcing of vegetables, fruits, etc. Pits are often walled on all sides, although, in many cottage gardens, excellent use is made of pits which are mere excavations. The walls are often raised above the ground, particularly the back wall, the more readily to give slope to the glazed frame. A pit in which no artificial heat is supplied is called a cold pit; but when forcing is intended, fined pits are often used. Artificial heat is sometimes also given by means of fermenting matter. The ventilation of pits, as much as the weather will permit, is of the greatest importance.