198 VARIOUS METHODS OF HEATING DESCRIBED IN DETAIL. 



inside the house, part of which is used for the combustion of 

 fuel ; the rest passes over the heated stove and enters the house 

 through the apertures above noticed. 



Fig. 38. 



Such is the original system of Polmaise heating, which has 

 created so much sensation in England, but which is now aban- 

 doned for some one or other of the many improved methods to 

 which it gave rise, the most perfect and scientific of which, I 

 have represented in the accompanying cuts. Figs. 37, 38, and 39. 

 The arrows marked a, in the three figures, show the entrance of 

 the cold air from the external atmosphere ; and its passage to 

 the fire-place, beneath the floor of the house, is further shown 

 by the arrows b, in Figs. 37, 38, and 39. Its passage over the 

 hot plate, through the chamber, under the bed, and thence into 

 the house, is marked by c, attached to each arrow in the three 

 figures ; ^, the fire-place ; e, a tank containing water, imme- 

 diately over the cast-iron plate ; /, a small funnel, or tube, for 

 supplying water to the tank ; g, (Fig. 38,) shows the bed on 

 which the plants are placed, resting on cross-bars, and filled 

 with pieces of brick, having a layer of sand or sawdust on top ; 

 this can be converted into a stage, if desired. This is Mr. 

 Meek's modification of Polmaise, from whom the drawing ap- 

 peared in the Gardener's Chronicle, and was there represented 

 as something very near perfection in heating, if not perfection 

 itself. The above sketch is somewhat altered and simplified in 



