Mxj 22, 18<6. ] 



JOUKNAL OF HOBTICTJLTHKE AND COTTAGE GABDENBB. 



883 



used indian-rabber tubing alone, for jointing both hot-water 

 and gas-pipes. After a severe test, it answers the purpose 

 admirably. 



A piece of galvanised iudiau-rubber tube, of a somewhat 

 larger diameter than the pipes to be joined, is passed over the 

 end of each. The vulcanised tubing is then encircled with 

 stout string (S), at a distance of half an inch from the termi- 

 nation of either pipe, and tied up strongly and neatly. The 

 juncUoQ presents the appearance represented ia fuj. 4. Though 



Fig. i. 



so simple, this is a most efiEectual joint. Taps can be inserted 

 in a similar manner. 



The next {Jiff. 5), is in a greenhouse, span-roofed, with glass 

 on all sides, and which is small, being only 12 feet square. 



From the outside is laid a wooden box, 10 inches by 5, open- 

 ing under the gas-bnrner. 



To prevent any smell at lighting there should be a continu- 

 atiou of pipe beyond the burners, opening externally. Letting 

 the gas escape from this for a minute ensm-es the pipes being 



full of gas, and, consequently, it is quickly lighted. This addi- 

 tion is important, as mixed air and gas might puff out in the 

 face, besides vitiating the atmosphere of the house. The 

 boiler, &e., is all of copper, except the chimney, which is gas- 

 pipe, and cost altogether about 70/. Tliree-quarter-iuch pipe 

 is recommended, as after midnight the pressure is only small, 

 although quite sufficient. The apparatus 13 placed under a 

 stage, and when not in use hidden by a pot,.o( Ivy flat-trained 

 on purpose. , 



Lastly, there is the following {jiff. Ci), patented by Mr. 

 Clarke, Eagle Foundry, Liverpool. In this the boiler is 

 formed of seven tubes, with a ring of jets of gas beneath. 

 There are seven small burners, one fixed exactly under 

 the centre of each tube. The boiler is made of copper, 

 and is 12 inches high by 'J inches iu diameter ; and the 

 water-space is between the tubes upon the same principle 

 as in the locomotive engines. The whole is enclosed in 

 a sheet-iron case just the shape of the boiler, made to fix 

 on the top, and extending down the side nearly to the bottom. 

 This case confines the heat to the outside of the boiler, and 

 to prevent the cold air getting between this casing and the 

 boiler a flange is fixed. 



In the above drawing, a a are two cast-iron boxes about 

 9 inches long, and of just sufficient width and depth to admit 

 of an inch-bore pipe being screwed into them. The top one, 

 of course, forms the flow, and the bottom one the return, b Is 

 another box which answers for the return ; c is a small air- 

 tube ; D the supply-cistern, which may be placed wherever 

 most convenient so long as it is above the highest point of the 

 pipes, which should be the box b ; and e is where the supply- 

 pipe, which need not be more than three-eighths of an inch 

 thick, is generally put in. 



There are four flows and four returns, the surface of which 

 is a little more than two rows of four-inch-bore pipes ; for the 

 circumference of a four-inch-bore pipe is about 14J inches, 

 while that of four one-inch-bore pipes is better than 16 inches. 

 Sometimes only three rows are used, and sometimes only two, 

 according to the size of the house, f Is a slide for lighting 

 the gas, which can be opened and shut at pleasure. There is 

 a tap for drawing the water oiT at any time, n Is a two-inch 

 sheet-iron tube for carrying off the burnt gas. 



This boiler may stand in the greenhouse and the flue-pipe be 

 taken through the roof, or, what is better, if practicable, put 

 into a chimney-shaft. This boiler contains about three quarts 

 of water. 



Neither two nor three-inch pipes ought to be used for gas, if 

 economy is to be considered. Supposing, for example, the cir- 

 cumference of a three-inch pipe is inches, 1 foot in length 

 would contain 84.82 cubic inches of water. Now, if we use 

 three one-inch pipes instead of one three-inch pipe, we obtain 

 the same heating surface, and have only 28.27 cubic inches of 

 water to heat ; consequently a great saving in gas is effected. 

 With this gas boiler one-inch bore wrought-iron pipes are used, 

 and the frost is kept out of a greenhouse 20 feet long by 15 feet 

 wide for something like Ss. Gd. or 4s. per week. 



Wooden truiik for admission of nir. 



A. The boiler. 



B. Chimney of two-iueh screwed gas- 

 pipe leading tbroagb the water, 



c. Steam safety-pipe opening exter- 

 nally, being of one-qoarter-incli powter- 

 pipe. 



D. To supply water, kept close. 



E. Two gas-burners in rings. One has 

 been ttifficient at present. 



F. The door to pass in a light. This is 

 a brass screw ping. Such can be bought 

 at any brassfounder's. The centre has 

 been cut out, and a small piece of talc 

 inserted, as it is satisfactory' to see the 

 light. The door has a cross handle. 



(;. Is a circular addition to the boiler, 

 and ought to have at least G inches of 

 gi'ound round the bottom. 



THE MANGOSTEEN. 



" Again [at Singapore] I tasted the iiangosteen ; and I now 

 boldly record my opinion that this much-vaunted fruit is in- 

 ferior even to a Banana, and not to bo compared with the 

 Mango." — iluUr's Travels, vol. ii., p. 18i. 



I haf e often closely questioned a naval friend, who has eaten 



this fruit at I'euang, a place in which alone it is said to be 

 quite perfect. He always talks about it in a sort of rapturons 

 way ; but when I have given him a very fine weU-ripened Nec- 

 tarine, and have said, " Well, what do you now say about the 

 Mangosteen ?" he has paused and said, " This is quite as lino; 



