DESCRIPTION OF HOTHOUSES. 133 



and steam for such purposes ; which I consider 

 highly necessary, after the various theories which 

 have appeared on the subject, prior to recom- 

 mending its general adoption, particularly as it 

 is now recommended by some for growing pines 

 to maturity, without tan or any other heat ; and 

 I think such caution the more necessary since 

 the management of pines under the above prin - 

 ciple of constructing the hothouse, and the treat- 

 ment alluded to, has stood the test, and proved 

 so eminently successful for so many years. 



Nevertheless, as it must be expected that a 

 work of this nature will include the new plans of 

 the present day, and as I am far from clinging to 

 the old, where improvements are at all visible in 

 ,the new, I will next give a description (or at 

 least copy a description from the transactions of 

 the Horticultural Society) of a pinery which is 

 stated to have succeeded with steam, without the 

 aid of a bark pit or any other heat ; but I may 

 here state that hot water heating is evidently 

 superseding that of steam, being of much less 

 trouble, and also less dangerous, while its pro- 

 perties may be considered quite equal if not 



