Atkinson's prior Application of hot Water proved. 427 



from the top of the boiler, and one pipe below has been found 

 sufficient for the returning pipe. When the houses are large, 

 a greater number of pipes should be used, to get more heated 

 surface, as in large houses heated with steam. Mr. Atkinson 

 has suggested using square pipes, instead of round ones, for 

 stoves, or, when a great heat is required, for the sake of 

 getting a greater heated surface * ; but as this would be more 

 expensive than the common round pipes, that are always to 

 be had ready made, it has not yet been adopted, though there 

 is no doubt but it would be an improvement. 



As I have been told, by some of the first gardeners, that 

 this invention of heating with hot water will forma new era in 

 gardening, I think the person who first discovered it, and 

 brought it into practical use, ought to have the credit ; and, 

 from all the enquiries I have been able to make, I cannot find 

 that any house was ever heated so as to answer, before that 

 which I executed at Mr. Bacon's, under the direction of Mr. 

 Atkinson. I am, Sir, &c. 



John Barrow. 

 38. East Street, Manchester Square, 

 Dec. 29. 1827., 



Art. XIV. Mr. Atkinson of Grove End proved to have been 

 the First 'who successfully applied the Mode of heating by hot 

 Water to Hot-houses. By Thomas Tredgold, Esq. En- 

 gineer. 



Sir, 



As the paper in your Magazine on heating forcing-houses 

 by hot water (p. 186.), leaves it doubtful to whom the art of 

 gardening is indebted for the first successful application of the 

 method, for the idea is by no means new, the following notices 

 respecting it may be interesting: — 



During the time I was with Mr. Atkinson, as his principal 

 assistant, he frequently mentioned his firm conviction that 

 hot-houses might be heated with much advantage by means 



* The increase of surface will be nearly \q-j 



one fourth, for the circumference of a 

 round pipe is to that of a square one as 3-f 

 is to 4. Our ingenious correspondent, Mr. 

 Saul, in the Mechanic's Magazine, vol. viii. 

 p. 393., has suggested square cast-iron pipes, 

 put together on the same principle as the 

 ship-builders' stoves, with small bolts and 

 nuts. {fig. 167.) — Cond. 



