The apparatus described in this paper can be used to grow alkali halide single crystals of several hundred grams from the melt in less than 48 h per crystal. The growth is carried out in a cylindrical quartz enclosure in a selected gas atmosphere which is maintained at a slight positive pressure by continuous inflow of gas. The gas flow also provides two salt‐free windows on a special Pyrex lid so that illumination and observation are possible throughout the growth process. Techniques of the growth procedure and provisions for automatic growth and termination are also described.