28 



JOUBNAL OF HOBTICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 



[ January 5, 18K. 



table ; indeed, I am safe in saying, that they are not inferior 

 to any grown in the neighbourhood under the most elaborate 

 Bystem^of heating by hot water. These Grapes we commence 



o, Smoke pipe. 



I), Evaporating pan (moveable). 



c. Opening for fnel, door open. 



d, ABh-boj door partly open. 



EI.ETATIOS. 



«?, Ventilator, 



//. Buttons for fastening door. 

 (7, Moveable aeb pan. 



d. Sheet-iron plate arched. 

 e e, Sand. 



BKCTION. 



a, Ponndation plate. 



t, Grate, 

 c c, Firebrichs. 

 cutting in July. This is as early as it can be accompliBhed, but 

 is sufficient testimony of the capability of the stove to resist 



frost ; and notwithstanding that it is placed at the back of ths 

 house, so well is the heat diffused and disseminated, that in 

 the most severe weather of winter. Cinerarias standing within 

 a few inches of the glass in front have been untouched by frost ; 

 but for additional safety, it is only the work of a few moments 

 to remove comparatively tender subjects further into the house. 

 It is, however, but fair to observe, for I wish to be very accu- 

 rate, that there is always more heat in the back and top part of 

 the house ; and notwithstanding every attentiou of airing and 

 bending the Vines from the immediate neighbourhood of the 

 stove as long a time as possible, the Grapes at the top of the 

 Vines are ripe a week to ten days before those at the bottom of 

 the rafters. The bunches, however, are very regular, and as 

 good at the bottom of the Vines as at the top. I have stated 

 what the stove will do ; the owner authorises me to say, that he 

 does not wish to see better Grapes, that he prefers some ripen- 

 ing before the others, and that he has previously sent you a 

 sample of what Grapes can be grown by an Arnotfs stove. 



1 will now introduce the negative, and state what it will not 

 do, or rather what it does not do here, for I am aware there is 

 a list of objections against it. 



1st, It fills the house with smoke on lighting the fire. No. 

 Unless it is out of order, the sheet-iron casing being worn 

 through in places, or improper fuel used, there is not the 

 slightest perceptible escape of smoke. Perfectly dry shavings 

 and split wood should always be used in lighting the fire ; no 

 harm will then result on this point. 



2nd, On attending to the fire a dust is raised which settles 

 on the plants and obstructs their respiratory organs. No. 

 With ordinary care the plants in this house present as clean 

 an appearance as those in an adjoining structure heated by hot 

 water, and there is certainly not so much dust distributed in 

 an entire year from the stove as there is from sweeping the 

 paths and shelves once without the necessary damping pre- 

 viously. 



3rd, The heat in close contiguity to the stove is of such a 

 parching and burning nature, that colonies of red spider will 

 find it particularly congenial to their taste, and will, as a conse- 

 quence, establish themselves in the house. No. The Vines 

 have not for two years had a single dash with the syringe, and 

 during this time not a single red spider has been seen. The 

 evaporating ]>an on the top of the stove is to a certain extent 

 a preventive of this pest. 



4th, The stove in its combustion emits sulphurous and 

 deleterious fumes impregnating the atmosphere of the house, 

 and is in some degree hurtful to vegetation. No. My ex- 

 perience does not teach me this. I will state a fact relevant to 

 this point. 



During the spring of last year, while the house was painted, 

 the occupants of a plant stove were transferred to this vinery, 

 in which the Arnott's stove was working. The stove was heated 

 to the utmost in providing a temperature suitable to this class 

 of plants, which consisted of Ferns in active growth. Begonias, 

 Caladiums, Dracanas, Gloxinias, and Gesneras in bloom, and 

 other plants of a very tender nature and susceptible of in- 

 jury from any cause ; but after a three-weeks sojourn not a, 

 frond of the most delicate Fern, or the texture of a flower bo 

 admittedly tender as a Gesnera or Gloxinia, was in the slightest 

 degree injured or discoloured. Indeed, I could have wished 

 they had remained a week longer, for they did receive a certain 

 amount of injury from the paint on returning to their esta- 

 blished quarters. 



I need say no more on this subject. I say not a word against 

 hot water; I am fully cognisant of its value as a heating 

 medium, and cheerfully accord to it many advantages and 

 general superiority, but still it does not on all points meet the 

 views or requirements of every class, and as every class looks 

 for information through the columns of the Journal, the ex- 

 perience may suit some one. Therefore, for a small detached 

 house for general purposes, and where Grapes are not required 

 before August, I unhesitatingly recommend Arnott's stove as 

 safe, clean, efficient, and in a pre-eminent degree economical. 



As an addendum to this communication, and in order that 

 everything bearing on the case may be made public, I may say 

 that when the greenhouse and plant stove were to be heated by 

 hot water, it occurred to my emploj-er, that instead of having 

 the nuisance of a chimney in the garden, the smoke might be 

 carried across a walk and along the front of the vineries, 

 escaping by a chimney in the back wall of the vinery. This 

 plan has succeeded perfectly. It adds a gentle warmth to the 

 front of the hou.=ies, and I have had no trouble from smoke. 

 This does not in the least degree detract from the capability of 



