London Nurseries. 377 



coming strongly into flower ; and every part of the houses, back sheds, and 

 grounds, displays that order and neatness which have always been charac- 

 teristic of this nursery, and which, in our opinion, constitute an essential 

 part of all garden management intended either to delight or instruct, we 

 might even say to be useful or profitable. Mr. Knight has paid an interest- 

 ing visit to Holland this spring, some notice of which we have already 

 given (p. 317.).— Cond. 



Colville's Nursery, K big' s Road, Jan. 3. and May 1. — The hot-house and 

 show conservatory here have been heated by hot water, on the siphon 

 principle of Mr. Kewley, the ingenious inventor of the automaton gardener 

 described in our Encyclopedia of Gardening, and one of the most scientific 

 engineers we know. The late Mr. Tredgold probably excelled Mr. Kewley 

 in science, as he unquestionably did in experience, but we do not think he 

 surpassed him in fertility of invention. We are most happy to find that 

 Mr. Kewley has turned his attention to the hot-water system of heating, 

 and intends to devote all his time to it, because we are certain he will effect 

 improvements. The cooperation of such an engineer as Kewley with such 

 liberal, enlightened, and economical tradesmen as Cottam and Hallen, would 

 be a real good to persons desirous of heating large buildings either for 

 plants or. animals. 



Mr. Kewley 's Mode of Heating on the Siphon Principle differs from that 

 of Mr. Fowler already described (Vol. V. p. 453.), in employing a pump, 

 fixed or movable at pleasure, to exhaust the air, and consequently draw up 

 the water into the siphon, instead of employing cocks and pouring in the 

 water. We have tried the cock system ourselves, and certainly we think it 

 occupies more time than Mr. Kewley's, and we do not think the latter sys- 

 tem more expensive, or more likely to go out of order. We refer however 

 to Mr. Dalgleish's report on Mr. Fowler's method (p. 334.), having never 

 seen it in operation extensively ourselves. Next winter we shall adopt 

 Mr. Kewley's system, and about this time twelvemonth we shall probably 

 be able to report on it. The great advantage of the siphon system is, that 

 there is no pressure on the boiler, and consequently no danger of bursting, 

 and less tear and wear of apparatus. Where water can be circulated on 

 the same level with that in the boiler, the siphon system is unnecessary ; 

 but in all other cases we certainly should prefer it to the closed boiler or 

 pressure system. We know some cases, in which, owing to the water 

 during the last severe winter having frozen in the circulating pipes, the 

 boiler burst. 



The Plants in Mr. Colville's Houses look remarkably well, and, as usual, 

 there is an ample stock of forced articles and showy spring flowers. Mr. 

 Colville bought the greater number of the cow tree and other plants 

 brought by Mr. Fanning from the Caraccas ; and it is due to Mr. Colville to 

 state that Mr. Fanning told us, a few days before his departure, that Mr. 

 Colville was almost the only man he could get any money from. A noble- 

 man bought fifty pounds' worth of these plants from Mi - . Fanning, and put 

 off the payment from time to time, till at last, we believe, Mr. Fanning went 

 off without having received the money. We know he had not received it 

 two days before his departure. Some of the cow plants are budding, but 

 we very much doubt whether they will ultimately live. — Cond. 



The Shane Street Nursery, April 25. — Mr. Tate has built a lofty orangery, 

 and introduced into it some very large imported trees. The sides and ends 

 of the house are of masonry or timber-work, and all the light the trees 

 receive is from a few windows in the roof. A useful orangery is thus 

 erected at little expense, and one, we believe, as effective for preserving the 

 plants during the winter as if the roof and south side had been of glass. 

 Those who use such orangeries, however, must take off the roof and south 

 fronts, which can easily be contrived for that purpose, and substitute glass, 

 bunting, or netting, for them, in the growing season in the end of April 



