THE 



GARDENER'S MAGAZINE, 



JANUARY, 1841. 



ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS. 



Art. I. On preserving Plants through the Winter, by Means of the 

 Temperature of Spring Water. By A. Gorrie, F.H.S., C.S., &c. 



In the Gardener^ s Magazine for 1830, p. 402., is a short 

 ai'ticle by me, " On preserving plants in winter by means of the 

 temperature of spring water." Having since made some im- 

 provements and fully tested its usefulness, I now send you plans 

 of the frame, well, and adjoining small fishponds. Perhaps 

 they may be admissible into your Suhurbaji Horticulturist. 



By reference to my article in the Gardencr^s Magazifie, it will 

 be observed that I then considered it might be usefully applied 

 by cottagers and others who could not conveniently spare the 

 expence of glass frames : finding, however, that many plants 

 useful or interesting to a more wealthy class could be easily pre- 

 served under any temperature however severe in this climate, 

 and to prevent some tender plants from being injured by too 

 much damp arising between the spars formerly used, I had a 

 box or frame formed of zinc, quite water-tight, fitted into a 

 wooden frame at near the top of the zinc, and with glazed sashes 

 to fit. 



Fig. 1. shows the size of this frame, within which are placed 

 pots containing such flowers as are wished to flower early, such 

 as snowdrops, Tussilago odorata, &c., or tender green-house 

 plants, as represented by the section (7%. 2. a). A two-light hot- 

 bed frame is placed over this zinc frame, large enough to allow 

 of 6 in. clear of water all round the zinc box. When the pots 

 and plants are put in, the box sinks in the water till the top of 

 the pots are something below the surface of the water without, 

 and thus the box is to that height surrounded by a uniform and 

 regular supply of water at the temperature of 47°, which causes 

 a like temperature in the air within the zinc, around the pots. 

 When the temperature falls 6° or 8° below freezing in the open 

 air, the inner sashes must be put on the zinc frame, which at 

 a higher temperature is not necessary : and, however severe the 

 frost or hoarfrost may be without, the inner frame, being sur- 

 rounded by water at 47° or its evaporation, never has any thing 



1841.— I. .3d Ser. b 



