232 ON HEATING A GUEENHOUSE BY GAS-LIGHT. 



N. B. For the particulars of prices and introduction I am a little 

 indebted to Mr. Butler's catalogue, but more particularly to Mr. 

 Groom's, who at the London Floricultural Meeting, April 5th, 1842, 

 read a paper on tulips, which was inserted in the Gardener's Gazette 

 of April 9th; and it is to be regretted that more particulars were not 

 given of the old varieties, and also from other catalogues than those 

 of the Walworth nursery, as they would have been highly interesting 

 to the admirers of the tulip. 



ARTICLE VI. 



ON HEATING A GREENHOUSE BY GAS-LIGHT. 



BT KDWAKUUS. 



In reply to the inquiry of your Correspondent S. in your Magazine 

 for September, I would observe that I have a greenhouse 30 feet by 

 S feet, with curved iron roof, in which I have a gas pipe with a com- 

 mon batswing burner. During the last winter I used the gas prin- 

 cipally for light, having an Arnott's stove with thermometer regulator, 

 which I generally kept burning both night and day during severe 

 weather, as by means of the screw the temperature could be regulated 

 to tilmost any required height with care ; sometimes, however, as in 

 case of sudden frost, I used to leave the gas burning all night, instead 

 of lighting the fire in the stove, and J never found it fail to keep the 

 frost out, though I should perhaps state that I have sliding blinds 

 which I let down over the roof. I never found any injury to the 

 plants either from the stove or gas, and they have been much admired 

 for their healthy appearance. 



With respect to the cost, gas is certainly much more expensive 

 than fire. From the nearest calculation I could make, I found that 

 the Arnott's stove, if kept alight constantly with stone or Welsh coal, 

 would cost about two shillings per week, that is nearly twopence for 

 twelve hours; a common size batswing burner will consume from 

 four to five feet of gas per hour, say fifty feet in twelve hours, which at 

 ten shillings per one thousand feet (the price paid here) would be six- 

 pence for the twelve hours, and supposing it not to be lighted in the 

 day-time (though in sharp weather this would sometimes be neces- 

 sary), the cost would much exceed fire-heat in the usual way, as almost 

 any rubbish is burnt, whilst, on the other hand, gas is cleaner and much 

 less trouble. 



