36 orchid-grower's manual. 



HEATING ORCHID HOUSES. 



OR effecting this, nothing is better than a hot-water 

 apparatus. I recommend four-inch pipes, and to 

 put in plenty of piping rather than too little. There 

 is nothing saved by economy of that kind, and it is far better 

 to spend a little more money for material at first, than have to 

 make additions afterwards. By having plenty of pipe a less 

 rapid combustion is required, which is better for the plants, 

 and the expense is saved in fuel in a very short time. I 

 should, therefore, advise four rows of pipes for the East 

 Indian house, three for the Brazilian, and two for the house 

 devoted to those species from New Grenada, Peru, and some 

 parts of Mexico ; by having four pipes for the plants requiring 

 most heat, one does not require to drive the fire so much 

 on a fi'osty night. I never raise steam from the pipes ; 

 for plenty of moisture can be obtained without it, by pouring 

 water on the tables and paths, which I consider much better 

 than so much steam discharged on the plants direct from rusty 

 pipes. At the same time, I do not by any means condemn 

 the use of evaporating troughs dui'ing the summer months, for 

 these will diffuse throughout the house a most congenial 

 moisture, highly beneficial to the growth of these plants, 

 and the effects of which are very different to that of scalding 

 steam. 



The boiler should be placed outside of the house, and not 

 set underneath, which is a very bad system. I remember 

 going to see a collection of Orchids where the boiler was so 

 situated. The gentleman said he had put it there to economise 

 heat, and the plants were growing very finely at the time. 

 Upon my remarking that I should be afraid of smoke getting 



