196 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



we have relied on an open expansion tank placed in the loft of the work 

 room, some 18 feet above the lowest portion of the returns, to one of which 

 it is connected near the heater. 



The steam heater was fired up on the 17th of November and has been in 

 operation ever since. The pipes warmed up evenly, the heater was easily 

 regulated and required but little care, and seemingly the amount of coal 

 consumed was very small. 



The hot water system was not completed until December 10. At 

 that time the steam heater had been in operation three weeks, and was 

 proving so satisfactory that everyone expected it would prove more 

 economical and easier to manage than the former, especially as the water- 

 heated house was most exposed to the prevailing cold west winds. 



Before beginning a comparative test of the two systems an attempt was 

 made to secure opinions as to the fairness of the test, so far as the piping 

 and its arrangement were concerned. The houses were shown to a number 

 of experts, both steam and hot water advocates, but no one took any 

 exceptions in any way except to claim that the water house was most 

 exposed, and that the radiating surface in that house should have been 

 increased to 300 square feet. Regarding the latter point it may be said 

 that the temperature of the steam pipes should never exceed 220° F. and 

 200 feet, the amount of pipe in the steam house, at 220° will equal, 

 theoretically, about 275 feet at 160°. Careful investigation has convinced 

 us that the average temperature of the water in the hot-water house can 

 easily be maintained above the latter temperature. 



The past winter has been quite mild, and the difference arising from the 

 exposed condition of the west house has been so slight that it need not be 

 considered. 



The temperature outside was recorded three times each day, that inside 

 twice, and the range of temperature in the houses between 9 P. M. and 6 

 A. M. was also noted, by means of maximum and minimum thermometers. 



The test of the two systems of heating commenced on the 10th of Dec- 

 ember, and continued until the first of May. During the last month the 

 same amount of coal was supplied to each heater, but during the first por- 

 tion of the time, an attempt was made to keep the houses at an average 

 temperature of 55° F. and coal was added in lots of 25 pounds as needed. 

 The fires were started up at 3 to 4 P. M., coal was put on at 9 P. M., and 

 except in severe weather the fires received no attention until 3 P. M. the 

 next day. During the first month the furnaces were used as surface burn- 

 ers, and when it was cold or windy it was generally necessary to add 25 

 pounds of coal at 6 A. M. 



After that date we filled the magazine at 9 P. M., and unless more than 

 150 pounds of coal was required for 24 hours, it was not necessary to 

 replenish it, until starting the fire the next afternoon. By using the mag- 

 azine we could preserve a more even temperature, as can be seen by the 

 record, the fires could be left for a longer interval, and the use of coal was 

 fully as economical. Both draft regulators worked perfectly, and that of 

 the water heater was particularly sensitive to any change of temperature 

 within the house. 



