256 ON HEATING PLANT STRUCTURES. 



ON FORCING HYACINTHS, &c. 



The chief business is to get the root well established before growth 

 commences, otlierwise it is impossible to produce an early and strong 

 bloom. Most of the failures are chargeable to the omission of this 

 most important point ; and the fault has not unfrequently been charged, 

 most unjustly, on the roots. A soil composed principally of a mellow 

 loam, with the addition of old cow manure and leaf soil, and a sprink- 

 ling of sharp sand and tine charcoal dust, will be found excellent mate- 

 rial. Secure good drainage, and pot the bulb high — three parts above 

 the level of the rim, taking care tliat tiie soil is in a mellow state, 

 neither wet nor dry. They succeed by far the best in a cold frame, 

 and it is most desirable that they should receive no moisture, beyond 

 what the soil contains, until the pot is somewhat filled M'ith roots. 

 Those who have not the convenience of a frame may plunge them in 

 cinder ashes in some sheltered spot, taking care to raise them above 

 the ground level, for fear of water lodging. Take care, and let them 

 be covered with six inches of some mellow material, such as old tan, 

 old leaf soil, sawdust (if not too new), or ashes. Remove tliem to a 

 warmer temperature as required ; a few may be forwarded at a time, 

 and so prolong the blooming season. 



ON HEATING PLANT STRUCTURES. 



Many of our readers are aware that within the last two years some 

 new systems of warming greenhouses and other structures for cultivat- 

 ing plants in, have been introduced to public attention. A great deal 

 has been published botli in favour and in disapproval of them. We 

 have received numerous applications, requesting us to give our opinion 

 on the merits of the various systems employed, but more especially re- 

 garding the Polmaise and Hazard's. Compliance therewith would have 

 been immediately given, but as we early remarked in our general 

 monthly reply to correspondents, we required practical evidence to 

 enable us to do so satisfactorily. We desire to benefit our readers, and 

 not applaud a system because it is new, and a great fuss is made about 

 it, as is done by some persons, and many have proved, at a considerable 

 loss, the being often misled. 



We have seen the Polmaise system in operation, but have not tried 

 it satisfactorily to ourselves yet. We shall be glad to receive com- 

 munications upon its merits from some of our readers who have had 

 extended experience, so as to enable them properly to judge of its 

 merits. 



D. B. Meek, Esq., of Holmsdale, in Sussex, has ably advocated the 

 Polmaise system of heating, and in a recent number of the Gardeners' 

 Chronicle stated some slight objections to Mr. Hazard's. The latter 

 gentleman has given the following reply in a subsequent number he 

 sent us, along with other communications connected with the sub- 

 ject : — 



" I take the liberty of commenting upon Mr. Meek's letter of 

 October 24. In the first place, Mr. Meek arrives too hastily at the 

 conclusion that glass is insensible to radiated heat, from the mere fact 



