CHAPTER XXI 



STEAM HEATING AND ENGINEERING 



AS fuel and steam heating play such an important part in 

 Rose growing it has been thought advisable to include 

 a chapter on this subject in this book. It will be my aim to 

 present this in such a simple form that it may be understood by 

 the beginner, for I realize that experts have no need of this 

 knowledge. 



The three elements of Nature which we must understand 

 in steam engineering are air, water, and fuel. 



AIR, WATER AND FUEL 1, AIR 



Air is composed principally of the three gases, nitrogen, 

 oxygen and carbonic acid gas, in the following proportions: 

 nitrogen, four parts, oxygen, one part, with a slight admixture 

 of carbonic acid gas. 



The most important of these is oxygen, for, without it, we 

 could not live, neither could combustion be maintained. 



The atmosphere has a pressure or weight of 14.7 (14 T V) 

 Ibs. per square inch at the sea level. The higher we ascend in 

 the air the less the pressure becomes. The displacement of the 

 air causes the water to rise in a pump or siphon. When filling 

 a boiler with water the air cocks or valves should be opened at 

 the highest point to allow the air to escape. 



A vacuum is a space from which all the air has been removed 

 and this system of heating is in use at some establishments. Air 

 that is confined (called dead air) is a good non-conductor of 

 heat or cold, while air in circulation will heat or cool a room. 



