234 



THE GARDENER'S MONTHLY 



[August, 



and others requiring a high temperature so that 

 about two-third.s of tlie whole space had to be 

 supplied with pipe sufficient to maintain at least 

 55° in the coldest weather It contains in round 

 numbers 7,000 feet of two inch pipe, all heated by 

 boiler (a fifty horse power ordinary locomotive 

 boiler). As in the other case, it has been oper- 

 ated by ordinary greenhouse hands, never re- 

 quiring the service of an expert; and the pro- 

 ducts of the establishment, both plants and cut- 



his water pipes in, say thirty minutes after start- 

 ing the fire? It takes about that time to raise 

 fifteen pounds of steam in the fifty horse power 

 boiler above referred to, after which, by opening 

 one valve you have your heating pipes hot in 

 two or three minutes I doubt if Mr. S. would 

 have his fires started thoroughly in all the boil- 

 ers which would be necessary to heat the con- 

 cern by hot water by the time you can raise the 

 temperature in all the eleven houses of Rene- 



flowers, invite comparison, and are a credit to j mans five degrees. 



the intelligent management of Mr. F. Wuttke, Now as to one of the most frequent queries in 

 who has been in charge almost from the begin- ; regard to the kind of heat obtained by steam, I 

 ning. I wish to say that the amount of misconception on 



This apparatus is supplied w-ith a device for that point even among professionals is some- 

 returning the condensation to the boiler, which thing wonderful. Isn't the heat obtained by 

 it does automatically and without the slightest i steampipes too dry for plants? This is the ques- 

 attention from any one, although a large portion tion asked with almost never failing regularity, 

 of the heating pipes are below the water level of; nnd my answer is, no, and a thousand times no. 

 the boiler. It is not supplied with any damper- Heat, per se, has nothing whatever to do with 

 regulator or other device to regulate or feed i moisture ; you will get as much moisture out of 

 itself during the night, for the simple reason that I a cast-iron hot-water pipe as you will out of a 

 it was thought unwise to leave such an establish- ' powder-horn or out of a steam pipe; what mois- 

 ment without a watchman at any time ; as it is, ' tuie you want in the atmosphere of your green- 

 it will compare favorably with any other appar- | house you must apply externally, and you do so 

 atus as to economy of attention. • apply it, whenever you feel the air too dry, by 



The cost of this apparatus was much, less than syringing or watering, wherein the steam heat- 



two-thirds the cost of hot water as per price-lists 

 and discounts obtained at the time. 

 The amount of fuel used during the season of 



ing has the great advantage that you can restore 

 the desired moisture in the shape of a vapor 

 bath, which comes nearer nature's own operation 



79 and '80, as per account of the superintendent, ' of dew for the same purpose, and which process 

 Mr. Wuttke, was 4,000 bushels of bituminous j the most delicate plants delight in to the highest 

 nut coal, equal to 152 net tons, or 'i35 gross tons; i degree, when they would be positively injured 



or in an ordinary severe winter, about 200 gross 

 tons, at an average price for coal here of 7 cents 



by ever so gentle syringing. You will dry up the 

 atmosphere of your houses precisely to the same 



per bushel. Every square yard of plant growing extent, no matter which heating medium you 



space (that is ccjunting only the area of the 

 benches and beds, and not that occupied by 

 walks) is heated by an expense for fuel of 20 

 cents for the whole season. 



After giving the above actual results, obtained 

 through several seasons, which practical men 

 will consider worth any amount of theories 

 whether pro or con, I will endeavor to show Mr. 



use, according to the temperature you maintain, 

 no more with steam and no less with hot water. 

 As for the gift of continuance of our heating 

 medium I readily admit, that should our fire go 

 out and the boiler cease to make steam, the tem- 

 perature of the house would fall very rapidly, 

 certainly more so than if heated by hot water, 

 but steam is capable of being regulated to the 



Salter where his theories as to the unsuitability I fraction of a pound by automatic devices, 

 of steam as a heating medium are at fault. 1 1 which hot water is not; and as for the fire going 

 hope I need hardly say to Mr. S. that in doing so \ out for the want of fuel, has Mr. S. never heard 



I am only trying to respond to his invitation to 

 elicit information on the subject. 



of the Magazine Base-Burning Stove, which may 

 be safely left for ten or twelve hours with the 



Mr. S. admits that probably heat might be got- certainty of finding a pretty good fire at the end 

 ten up more quickly to a certain degree. by steam | ol twenty? 



than by hot water, though he thinks that the j Again Mr. S., says steam is not simple enough 

 effects of the fire will be felt sooner by the latter 1 and not to be trusted to the care of boys or la- 

 method. How much heat will Mr. S. get out of! boring men without danger of condensing or 



