186 Transactions of the Horticultural Society. 



slope is small, it is covered by smaller hollies, growing so 

 thickly together that a man cannot pass through them : they 

 appear to have arisen from seed, and are of younger growth 

 than the others; they exceed 100 in number, but none are 

 more than 2 feet in girth. On the flat ground adjoining the 

 bottom of the southern part of the bank, some hollies of large 

 dimensions grow, the measurement of the two best of which 

 is as follows : — First, 52 ft. high ; girth at the root, 7 ft. 5 in., 

 at six feet, 5 ft. 7 in. ; height to branches, 10 ft. 6 in. : second, 

 43 ft. 9 in. high ; girth at the root, 4 ft. 9 in. ; at six feet, 

 4 ft. 9 in. ; height to branches, 8 ft. 6 in. The first of these 

 trees divides, after the above height, into three large branches ; 

 the second into two branches. A few of the hollies on the 

 bank are nearly as tall as the above. 



" The alders have, when viewed at a distance, very much the 

 appearance of oaks. The dimensions of three of them are 

 as follows : — One, 71 ft. high, and 9 ft. 4 in. in girth; one, 

 61^ ft. high, and 7 ft. 4 in. in girth; one, 58 ft. high, and 

 8 ft. in girth ; the girths being taken at from five to six feet 

 from the ground. 



" There is no record existing relative to these singular trees, 

 nor any account of their age : none have been felled, except- 

 ing those which have exhibited symptoms of decay, within the 

 knowledge of any person now alive." 



23. An Account of a Plan of heating Stoves by means of Hot Water? 

 employed in the Garden of Anthony Bacon, Esq. F.H.S. By Mr. 

 William Whale, Gardener to Mr. Bacon. 



After twenty years' experience in forcing, both with brick 

 flues and steam, Mr. Whale gives " the preference to the 

 method Mr. Bacon has adopted of heating his houses with 

 hot water." 



" Brick flues are subject, from their numerous joints, and 

 the mortar cracking, to give out at times a sulphureous gas 

 which is injurious to plants ; and even with two fire-places, 

 in a house forty or fifty feet long, it is impossible to keep up 

 an equal temperature in the whole length. The houses get 

 overheated in the neighbourhood of the fire-place, and it is 

 difficult to maintain a proper warmth at the extremities of the 

 flues. 



" Steam may do very well on a large scale, and where 

 there is constant attention to the fire both day and night; 

 but the objections are, the great expense of a steam-boiler, 

 and the apparatus belonging to it ; the frequent repairs that 

 are required, and the necessary attention to the fire, which is 



