THE WALTONIAN PROPAGATING CASE. 



coiling round and round, then out through the back of the Case, to carry off the 

 smoke and smell ; and the principle is the same as that by which the water in the 

 basins in the Crystal Palace is kept warm ; hot water-pipes heat the water in the 

 basins, and a zinc pipe heats that in this apparatus, being heated itself either by 

 gas or oil. But, where gas can be applied, I would recommend it as far prefer- 

 able to a lamp, because there is no bother about snuffing, trimming wicks, or keep- 

 ing a lamp clean. A lamp must be trusted to a servant when the master is out, 

 and if he neglects it, your -batch of cuttings may be dead and gone before you 

 come home. But as gas cannot be had everywhere, I subjoin Mr. Walton's de- 

 scription of his own Case, with sketches to illustrate the working, premising that 

 his fears about the draught from the lamp through a coil of tubing were ground- 

 less when the gas was applied, and that nothing acts more satisfactorily with a 

 very small jet of gas. Neither is it necessary to begin with hot water if that in 

 the tin case should get cold at any time. Also, that what he means by the lamp 

 burning for eight hours, is not that the half pint of oil is consumed in that time, 

 but that the lamp requires trimming at the end of eight hours." 



Mr. Walton, the inventor, thus describes his Case : — 



" The box I used was an old one, to which I added a top, so as to give an in- 

 clination, as in a garden frame. Half way down, in the inside, a moulding is 

 nailed, on which the zinc frame rests. The pots are placed on the zinc frame. 

 The boiler is of tin, surrounded by a false cover of tin, which I found necessary 

 to create a draught for the lamp. A small chimney runs from the inner boiler, 

 through the false cover, into the frame; and, although the water does not boil, 

 the steam, or moisture, keeps the frame damp. The false cover has a chimney 

 which runs through the frame and out at the back, to carry off the smoke, if an}^ but 

 there ought to be very little. The lights are divided into three, and are merely 

 fixed in zinc frames, not wood, and let into the top, to lift on and off, or tilt. 

 This is better and cheaper than glass in a wood frame, as the water (why, I can- 

 not tell) does not drop inside, but rests on the outside, and may be tilted off. 

 The lamp was made by Smithurst, of Bond Street, but is quite plain and circular, 

 holding more than half a pint of Colza oil. It must be well trimmed, so as not 

 to smoke, and then will burn eight hours. A tin lamp will do just as well. The 

 smoke does not get at the plants, but would collect at the bottom of the boiler, 

 and fall on the lamp. 



" The lamp is three inches high, and four inches across. If trimmed at night, 

 it will be alight in the morning, and should be trimmed in the middle of the day. 

 If the lamp should go out, and the water become quite cold, draw off some and 

 add hot water, otherwise the lamp will not burn. I have raised from cuttings, 

 Roses, Verbenas, Fuchsias, and Dielytra spectahilis, and it is excellent for forcing 

 seeds of all sorts. Mr. Beaton, our gardening authority here, says it will raise any- 

 thing that can be raised by heat, as it is so clean and moist. He has suggested 

 an improvement, which I intend to try ; which is, to do away with the outer tin 

 case, and to insert, at the ])ottom of the boiler, a coil of zinc tubing, and to carry 

 it out through the case as my smoke is now. This would be more simjile, but I 

 very much doul)t if the lamp would have sufficient draught to burn. Mr. West, 

 the ironmonger here, has made them complete for 35s. ; but he could make the 

 boiler apparatus, tin lamp, &c., separate, and you could have the zinc tray and 

 box made in the country to fit the boiler." 



The following description of one by Mr. Beaton, will fully explain the structure 

 in all its details. It is no doubt capable of many improvements, of which our 



Yankee genius" will not be slow to avail itself : — 



My lamp is copper, but tin would do as well. It has an extra head to 



