3 MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN BULLETIN 
valve chamber at a pressure of about 60 pounds and is there 
reduced to 4 or 5 pounds. The vacuum system is used, and 
all pipes and fittings throughout the whole range are galva- 
nized. The plan of screening the heating and water pipes by 
means of concrete walls has been followed in the new range, 
since the success of the system has been thoroughly demon- 
strated in the main conservatory. Cypress is the only wood 
used, and the glass is considerably heavier than that ordi- 
narily employed in such greenhouses. 
Floral Display House-—The south wing of the main con- 
servatory, formerly used for floral displays, demonstrated 
that a house running east and west was not well adapted 
for this purpose. Not only did the afternoon sun shorten 
the life of the blooming plants, but an unequal light on 
the two sides of the house caused the plants to develop much 
more rapidly on one side than on the other. Consequently, 
the new floral display house has its main axis running north 
and south. The fine effect of entering the former flower 
house at an elevation above the main floor has been retained, 
but is extended so that in the present house a large balcony 
has been provided for viewing the flowers as a- complete 
display. In order to obviate the difficulties experienced in 
the old house, of furnishing a temporary background of 
green plants, there is a permanent collection of foliage 
plants for this purpose. These are set in earth, banked up 
in front of the heating-pipe wall, and retained in position 
by a slightly lower front wall. The floor of the flower house 
proper, which is some 5 feet lower than the balcony, is 
about 150 feet long and 48 feet wide, between the permanent 
planting above referred to. This floor has been paved 
throughout with brick, and consequently there is great flex- 
ibility in the arrangement of the various potted plants used 
for floral display. The advantage of being able to vary 
the size and arrangement of the beds without involving any 
additional work because of walks can readily be appre- 
ciated. At the south end of the house is a large basin and 
fountain and stairways leading from the balcony to the 
main floor. In the center of the entrance floor is a pit, 
octagonal in shape, designed for the growing of bananas, 
the depressed area making it possible to show the flowers 
and fruit of these interesting plants in a manner not usually 
attained, : 
