W-IntosKs Practical Gardener. 189 



also, and reintroduced the original flues, being practically convinced that 

 he has lost much by the experiment; and since the introduction of the hot- 

 water system, heating by steam, in this country at least, may be said to be 

 abandoned, as far as regards horticultural purposes. 



" It does not appear that hot-houses will ever be built in this country 

 upon so extensive a scale, as to render the heating by steam really neces- 

 sary, from a motive of economy. Where expense is no consideration, steam 

 may be introduced into large conservatories, and be converted to many 

 other purposes connected with domestic economy, as such buildings are 

 usually attached to, or near, the dwelling of the owner; but for hot-houses 

 in gardens, where the extent is not infinitely greater than any that has yet 

 appeared in this countr}', fire-flues, or the hot-water system, will be found 

 much the cheapest, and will answer every purpose of heating the houses 

 equally well." 



Hot-water, as applied to heating Hot-Houses. — " For the invention, and 

 introduction into practice, of this really useful and ingenious mode of heat- 

 ing forcing-houses, we are indebted to the ingenuity and perseverance of 

 William Atkinson, Esq., of Grove End, St. John's Wood, a gentleman, not 

 only eminent in his profession as an architect, but also a zealous promoter 

 of every thing connected with horticultural affairs." 



We iiave not a doubt that Mr. Atkinson invented the means of heating 

 hot-houses by hot-water ; but we are equally clear that the original inventor 

 was M. Bonnemain, in Paris, before 1777, and that both dwelling-houses 

 and hot-houses were heated by hot-water by Messrs. Bolton and Watt, and 

 by the Comte Chabaimes, in England, before Mr. Atkinson's invention, 

 according to Mr. Barrow's statement (V^ol. III. p. 425.), was exhibited in 

 models. The facts from which we draw these conclusions are all before 

 our readers, in preceding volumes of this Magazine. Whether Mr. Atkin- 

 son or Mr. Anthony Bacon was the first to invent this mode of heating is a 

 point not quite clear, nor do we think it of the smallest consequence either 

 to the memory of these gentlemen or to the public. The state of science 

 had long been ripe for such an invention, and the circumstance of having 

 thought of it, is more a matter of good fortune than of scientific merit. A 

 great defect in Mr. M'Intosh's book is, that he does not give a variety of 

 plans showing the application of the hot-water system to different hot- 

 houses, pits, and hot-beds; such engravings would have been incomparably 

 more useful than tlie coloured dahlia (now georgina), camellia, amaryllis, and 

 other such common things, or even the plans of hot-houses and pits, which 

 accompany these seven numbers. Perhaps we shall have such plans in the 

 remaining ones. 



The Pine-Apple. — Mr. M'Intosh and we entirely agree on this subject, and 

 he quotes at length our opinion with regard to bottom heat, as given in The 

 Different Modes of Cultivating the Pine-Apple, &c. " The pine will bear a 

 much higher degree of heat, for almost any length of time, than most fruit- 

 bearing plants in cultivation, and will also, without injury, bear a degree of 

 cold that would be death to any other exotic fruit, while in a state of vege- 

 tation. . . . We find it producing its fruit under a greater variety of bad 

 culture, than almost any other cultivated fruit. 



" Mr. Knight, in several papers in the Horticultural Transactions, has en- 

 deavoured to establish the practice of growing pmes upon stages, and 

 otherwise, without bottom heat ; but in this practice he has not equalled, 

 far less excelled, the most indifTerent pine-grower in the country. Example 

 is better than precept ; and until Mr. Knight has proved by example his mode 

 of culture to be superior to that so long approved by practice, his con- 

 verts must be few. However, this eminent horticulturist deserves well of 

 his country for any experiments he may make ; he has made many, and 

 some highly useful, and, much to his credit, he has performed them at his 

 own expense, so that if he fail in some, it is but a natural consequence which 



