508 THE GARDENER. [Nov. 



characteristics of this boiler are its increased water-way, flatter span, and 

 consequently more heating surface than is possessed by the ordinary 

 forms of saddle-boilers now in use. All appears to be eminently fitted 

 to the peculiar requirements of lime-kiln heating, and at Hatfield is 

 connected with 7000 feet of 4-inch piping, nearly all of which was fully 

 exposed to the external atmosphere at the time of the trial. In addi- 

 tion to heating this quantity of piping, it is expected to reduce the 

 cost of fuel by producing lime for use on the estate. We took occasion 

 to examine some of the lime produced from the chalk at Hatfield, and 

 found it to be of excellent quality and quite free from cinders, ashes, 

 or other refuse of combustion, which some imagined would deteriorate 

 from its value. The pipes at Hatfield are on two levels, and the upper 

 portions naturally monopolise much of the heat at the outset ; still we 

 think, when the kiln gets thoroughly into working order, there will be 

 no difficulty worth naming, or that would not have attended the intro- 

 duction of a boiler heated by any other system. It is a question 

 whether G-inch mains from the boiler would not have been better than 

 the 4-inch pipes now used ; but this may safely be left in the hands of 

 Messrs Jas. Boyd & Sons, heating engineers, of Paisley, near Glasgow, 

 who have supplied and fixed the pipes, and in addition have erected 

 two new forcing-houses in a thoroughly substantial manner. Every 

 new system is open to good-natured comment and straightforward 

 criticism, and this we believe does more good than harm. The system 

 appears to have special advantages, and we may briefly recapitulate 

 these as being economy in the cost of fuel and labour, since the fire 

 may safely be left for 12 hours without any attendance, when in fair 

 working order. One difficulty is the length of time required to get up 

 the heat if once the fire is allowed to get too low, but this is easily 

 avoided if ordinary precautions are exercised. The management of the 

 apparatus being essentially different to that of others, it follows, that any 

 one who uses this system for the first time has many little wrinkles to 

 learn in order to work it successfully : these once overcome, the affair 

 appears simple enough, so far as our experience of the matter derived 

 from our seeing the Hatfield boiler in operation extends. In concluding 

 this short notice we wish the system and its inventor all the success 

 they deserve. F. W. Burbridge. 



GOIiDEN CHAMPIOlSr. 

 From peculiar circumstances, which I will here detail, I am able to 

 corroborate what Mr Simpson of Wortley, as well as the Editor of the 

 * Gardener,' describes as the treatment as to moisture in the atmosphere 

 this Grape requires. In one of my long span-roofed vineries here 

 there are four plants of the Golden Champion Vine. These houses have 



