AND HORTICULTURIST. 



173 



advance. There are some objections, as there 

 are to all these projects, but the balance of ad- 

 vantages as against the objections, decides. 



As to consumption of coal, we know of one 

 large building heated by steam, which once had 

 furnaces in the cellar. The average of coal 

 used the past two winters, was no more than of 

 the two winters previous. Fires are left on 

 Saturday night, and the building has very little 

 decrease in temperature on Monday morning. — 

 Ed. G. M.] 



Steam Heating Around Chicago. — " Chicago " 

 says : " In your May number there is an article 

 on steam heating, by Mr. W. D. Allen. Having 

 read the articles by different writers, that have 

 appeared in your paper, I have become in- 

 terested in this mode of heating ; but if, as Mr. 

 Allen says, he uses the same system of arranging 

 pipes, etc., that is so highly recommended by 

 others of your correspondents, I hardly think it 

 will pay to investigate the matter further. I am 

 not impressed with the results as they seemed to 

 me the last time I saw them in Mr. A's houses. 



"Mr. Allen's statements in regard to cutting 

 flowers are a ' little off.' Among the growers 

 around Chicago, his liouses are noted for pro- 

 ducing nothing. His roses are the poorest I ever 

 saw; Carnations, not much better; Camellias 

 and Smilax he grows in great abundance and 

 very finely. As for his growing more flowers 



than all the others put together, there are dozens 

 who leave him far behind. I say this that those 

 who have visited Mr, A 's place may not have an 

 erroneous opinion of the flower growers around 

 Chicago," 



[This is getting to be a personal matter. 

 " Chicago's " note is, however, legitimate, on ac- 

 count of Mr. Allen's remark, and we have ad- 

 mitted it as a matter of fair play. But the 

 question as to who grows the most or the 

 fewest flowers, is not appropriate here. In 

 regard to the question of steam heating, the 

 point has little bearing. The only question in- 

 volved is, Will steam give out more heat, and 

 with less care and cost than hot water? If it 

 will not do so on a small scale, will it do so when 

 the houses are on a large scale ? Is it under any 

 circumstances more advantageous than hot 

 water or hot air? and if so, what are these spe- 

 cial circumstances? It does not follow that be- 

 cause all these or any of these questions may be 

 answered in favor of steam, one will yet have 

 plenty of flowers. Something else besides a 

 good boiler, and a good attendance on a good 

 boiler, before we can have flowers, — Ed. G. M ] 



Odontoglossum citrosmum,— " C," asks : "Will 

 some of the readers of the Monthly please give 

 me some information concerning the culture of 

 Odontoglossum citrosmum and Cypripedium 

 nevium?" 



Fruit and Vegetable Gardening, 



SEASONABLE HINTS. 



Of the many projects for securing a plum crop, 

 none have been permanently successful butjarring 

 the trees. It is not a great task, but it needs to 

 be persistently followed. The plum knot, is 

 less prevalent than it used to be ; cutting away as 

 it appears keeps it under, and generally prevents 

 its being a serious evil, Apple and Pear some- 

 times suffer from the hot sun shining on the 

 bark. Whitewash, that is lime wash, is objec- 

 tionable on account of the glaring color, but it 

 reflects the heat, and the tree is benefited. Hot 



ground is an injury to most fruit trees. Shading, 

 wherever it can be cheaply done is a great 

 benefit. 



Do not let any tree over-bear. The tendency 

 with most trees when they once begin, is to do 

 too much of it. The good fruit grower cuts out 

 the fruit spurs or flower branches, before they 

 are in blossom. If this has not been done, thin 

 out the fruit. 



Thin out sprouts from trees, where new branches 

 are not needed, especially on the trunk or near 

 the ground. The injury to trees from leaving 

 them till fall is enormous. 



Watch if your strawberry or raspberry plants 



