No 6. DEPARTMENT OE' AGRICULTURE. 7S9 



As a rule, with the requisite amount of executive ability centered 

 in the guiding head, the larger the establishment the easier it is 

 managed and naturally the more profits result. 



We hear of an automatic stoker — a machine to coal the fire 

 when needed. I have not seen it in operation, but there is no doubt 

 about its being successfully done in a few large establishments. 

 With such a machine and ao automatic ventilating apparatus, 

 two of the most important matters are provided for. All that would 

 be necessary in such a place with those contrivances would be 

 a night watchman, with the day men located conveniently to be 

 on call in case of accident during the night, because in many large 

 establishments there are thousands of dollars worth at the mercy of 

 the elements in case of a breakdown in the heating apparatus or the 

 breaking of glass. 



The very best, because offering the least trouble and expense after 

 the first cost, that I have heard of is in an establishment located at 

 Helena, Montana, which is incorporated under the name of "State 

 Nursery Company," the greenhouse department of which is heated by 

 natural hot water. The hot water is conducted through the green- 

 houses in pipes, as is done when a boiler is used, excepting that no 

 provisions are made for the water to return, it flows on after it has 

 done its duty, apparently going to waste. The springs from which 

 the water is taken are about half a mile away from the gi'eenhouses, 

 and the w^ater is conducted in a wooden pipe under ground and has a 

 fall of one hundred feet, which registers about thirty pounds pres- 

 sure. The temperature of the water is 130 degrees when it reaches 

 the greenhouses so that it takes more lineal feet of pipes to insure 

 the atmosphere in the greenhouses being raised to the desired tem- 

 perature than it does when the heating is done by the ordinary 

 methods of steam or hot water as practiced in Pennsylvania. This 

 item of information is introduced here incidentally to indicate the 

 advantages that some florists have over others, especially out in far 

 away Montana when the question of heating is under consideration. 



DISEASES. 



Mildew — so called probably on account of the mealy-like substance 

 which is spread over the leaves of the plants affected — is the most 

 common disease which affects roses and yet one of the easiest con- 

 trolled. The very best way is to use preventives, which is done by 

 using flower of sulphur mixed with about its equal in bulk with air- 



