Machine for xioatering Hot-beds. 357 



able objection to all coverings which remain on constantly, that 

 they cannot be thick enough to keep off the frost by night, 

 without being so thick as materially to obstruct the sun and 

 air by day; and thereby generate, by their closeness, insects 

 and blight. Now, the covering here recommended is not 

 only an effectual protection, but, by being removable by day, 

 is not liable to such objections ; and the facility and expedition 

 with which it is furled and unfurled, is not its least recom- 

 mendation. 



Instead of nailing my peach, nectarine, and apricot trees, I 

 have adopted a mode of fastening them, which appears to me 

 much preferable. By means of an iron staple of the annexed 

 shape and size {Jig. 99.), driven into all the horizontal joints, 

 at the distance of 10 ft. from each other (with the eye 99 

 standing out half an inch from the wall), I extend 

 a well-stretched copper wire, of the thickness of a 

 straw, very tightly from one end of the wall to the 

 other. To this wire I tie the branches with matting, 

 which, altogether, looks better than shreds and nails. 

 But its greatest recommendation is, its affording no 

 harbour for insects, either for retreating into in winter, or 

 breeding in in summer, which shreds and old nail-holes always 

 do, to the great injury of both trees and fruit; and though, in 

 the first instance, it is expensive, costing Qs. 6d. per yard in 

 length of an 11 ft.-high wall, yet, as it may never require re- 

 newing, the annual saving in nails and shreds will soon repay 

 the cost. I therefore would recommend it strongly. 



Yours, &c. 

 Bughy Lodge, May I. 1828. Abr. Caldecott. 



Art. XIX. On a stationary Machine, or Combination of Lead 

 Pipes, for nsoatering the Interior of the Mould in Hot-beds. 

 By Mr. James Stephens, Gardener, Carr House, Don- 

 caster. 



This is simply a leaden pipe or tube, 2 in. in diameter, and 

 about 2 ft. long, placed upright between two hills. To its bot- 

 tom are attached branch pipes, which extend horizontally till 

 they touch the hills, and are then bent circularly so as to sur- 

 round each. These principal pipes lie about 2 in. above the 

 dung, and have a number of smaller tubes inserted into them, 

 to carry the water, and distribute it equally through perfo- 

 rations, to every part of the interior of the bed of earth. 

 The ingenious inventor affirms that much benefit is derived 



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