1880.1 



AND HORTICULTURIST. 



169 



because it is their winter. But from Brazil, if 

 kept in anything like the heat that is found 

 there (in Brazil), from November to March will 

 commence to grow finely, and at this time all 

 the Brazilian Cattleyas, La?lias, Miltonias, Epi- 

 dendrums, and Zygopetalums are growing. 



Those Orchids coming from b^ to 10° each 

 side of the Equator, will, if handled properly, 

 make two growths in the year, and the New 

 Grenada Oncids, Odonts, and Masdevillias 

 seem to be almost perpetual growers. Vandas, 

 brides and Saccolabiums will make some 

 growth all the winter if kept moderately moist , 

 and warm> The proper cultivation of Orchids 

 is more a subject of knowledge than actual \ 

 work. I have plants growing in the same 

 baskets, (cedar), where they have been for six 

 or more years, and in pots full as long, and in 

 perfect health. It is a good plan in November 

 to go over a collection of Orchids and put those 

 that are to rest together, and those that are 

 growing, or beginning to grow by themselves; 

 otherwise the most careful person may either 

 neglect to water some that need it, or water 

 some too much that are dormant. A great 

 mistake is too often made with these latter by 

 putting them in any out of the way place, often 

 under the shade of other plants. At no time 

 are Orchids more benefited by plenty of light 

 and sun than when they are dormant. It seems 

 to solidify the bulbs, and meets a requirement 

 in their culture. I am now referring especially 

 to those Orchids that make pseudo bulbs. The 

 idea that all Orchids grow in damp, shady 

 places is a great error. I do not remember in 

 the many times that I have been at their 

 homes, that I saw a dozen grow in dense shaded 

 places. They grow mostly on the trees at the 

 edge of forests, where they get plenty of light, 

 abundance of pure fresh air and rain in their 

 growing season. 



STEAM HEATING. 



BY JOSIAH SALTER, Rf (CHESTER, N. Y. 

 (Concluded from page 13S.) 



Steam is not simple enough, for we cannot 

 trust it to the care of any boy or any laboring 

 man, who does not understand it, without the 

 danger of the steam either condensmg or ex- 

 ploding. Whereas an explosion of hot water 

 pipes would be impossible. It would be merely a 

 leak, nothing more and easily stopped. Steam 

 has never proved eflPectual for horticultural pur- 



poses so far as I knovv or have read, that I can 

 recollect, and has always been given up wher- 

 ever tried. Steam may be good for heating 

 large dwelling houses, stores, large halls, facto- 

 ries, etc., but the thin glass structures built for 

 horticultural purposes are altogether another 

 thing. Also, "the disadvantages of steam, as a 

 vehicle for conveying heat to hothouses are 

 few." I hardly dare presume to question the 

 opinions of such authorities as Mr. Loudon, but 

 nevertheles I have opinions and ideas of my 

 own, and think the disadvantages of steam, as 

 compared with hot water are many. 



The first disadvantage is, and it is a great one 

 in plant growing, that after making the fire, we 

 get no warmth at all from the pipes until the 

 water in the steam-boiler boils. It then makes 

 steam which heats the pipes all at once, to at 

 least 212" Fah., which is at least 30° too hot for 

 any heating medium for the good of the plants ; 

 and no matter how we try to modify the means 

 of heating, by throwing the steam into large 

 boxes of stones, etc., we cannot convey the 

 steam any distance from the boiler without 

 heating the pipes to at least 212°. 



Another disadvantage is that if we want to 

 leave our fire nine or ten hours through the night, 

 and after going to bed it should burn out or 

 burn low towards morning, the boiler ceases to 

 make steam, the steam in the pipes is condensed 

 at once, and we cease to get any warmth. 



Now, if we should try an experiment in heat- 

 ing two houses, each containing the same num- 

 ber of cubic feet of air, both built alike and 

 glazed alike with the same quality of glass, each 

 house containing, say 300 feet 4-inch pipe, one 

 for water, the other for steam and take a night 

 when the air is still and the mercury at 32° out- 

 doors and in-doors, with a thermometer hanging 

 midway of each house, about four feet from the 

 ground and equal distance from the heating me- 

 dium, and start the fires both together and note 

 the time it takes to raise the mercury to 60° in 

 each house and the amount of coal it takes. 

 When the mercury has stood at 60° for a short 

 time make up both fires, so as to use the same 

 quantity of coal in each and note the time it- 

 takes for each house to cool down to the 32'' 

 again. By such means we might come to some 

 definite conclusion as to which is the cheaper 

 and better means, hot water or steam. 



I have no doubt the steam will raise the heat 

 to 60° a little the soonest, although the circula- 

 tion in the hot water pipes will commence the 



