MAY 17. lUOt). 



The Weekly Florists^ Review. 



761 



The Greenhouses of the State Nursery Co., Helena, Montana, Heated by Water from a Hot Spring. 



are who in early days "pioneerefl" this 

 part of the cuuutry. 



In spealiing of "early days." we refe:- 

 to the 60's, when the discoveries of 

 placer gold brought seekers for the 

 precious metal to the great west. 

 They eertainly endured many hard- 

 ships, and had many trying and dan- 

 gerous experiences. That day is over, 

 and we no longer live in fear of b^- 

 ing scalped by Indians. 



Perhaps, however, thi-; is foreign to 

 the subject on which you have re- 

 quested a few lines. Still, florists, 

 naturally, for some reason or other. 

 associate their business with refine- 

 ment and culture, and in this connec- 

 tion it is safe to say that although 

 the contour of the country here may 

 be rugged and rough (and one is al- 

 ways influenced by environment), 

 still we have esthetic ideas and nice 

 views on matters. We even have "so- 

 ciety," for our population is composed 

 largely of persons who have come here 

 from other states, from the south. 

 the east. In fact, from all parts of the 

 worW. These people brought their 



civilization and refinement with them 

 to the Rockies. Thus it is that in 

 Montana (and Helena especially), 

 flowers are used by many as lavishly 

 as they are in other states, and whilst 

 some .stock is shipped in. most of it is 

 produced here. 



The American Beauty roses grown 

 by the State Nursery Company have 

 given Helena a name, and persons 

 coming from other places are rather 

 surprised to see as fine roses and car- 

 nations as are found anywhere. 



Most interesting, however, to the 

 majority of your readers perhaps is 

 the fact that the greenhouses of the 

 State Nursery Company, located close 

 to the famous Broadwater Natatorium 

 at Helena, are heated by the natural 

 hot water as it is piped from the 

 springs. These springs rise about a 

 mile above the greenhouses- and the 

 water is conveyed in wooden pipes to 

 the natatorium before mentioned, 

 passing through the land of the State 

 Nursery Co. on their way and running 

 within about thirty feet of their green- 

 houses. This company have arrange- 



ments with the owners of the springs 

 to use the water for heating their 

 greenhouses. 



The water is led into the pipes, and 

 having a good pressure circulates 

 through the houses as artiftcially heat- 

 ed water does, with the exception in 

 this case that it does not return to the 

 boilers, but runs away after having 

 performed its duty. With the excep- 

 tion of perhaps thirty of the coldest 

 days in winter, or when the thermom- 

 eter is below zero, the natural heat of 

 the water is sufficient. During these 

 very cold days, however, the natural 

 hot water is connected with boilers; 

 and the fires run the temperature up 

 to the desired point. This method o'' 

 heating has been in successful opera- 

 tion for about two years, and is be- 

 lieved to be the first case on record 

 of heating greenhouses by the natural 

 heat of the water from hot springs. 

 Are you aware of any other instance 

 of hot springs having been utilized for 

 this purpose previously? 



Paderewski, the great pianist, and 

 his wife were visitors at the green- 



