188 ' Mcintosh's Practical Gardener. 



unconnected, even though they may be joined; and, if detached, they as 

 much resemble huge bird-cages as houses for the cultivation of fruits. The 

 most convenient and economical form of houses seems to be that of a 

 straight front, resting upon a parapet of brick or stone, of a proper 

 width, and presenting an angle to the horizon, suited to the purpose for 

 which it is intended. If for late forcing, or pine-stoves, an elevation 

 generally of 35° will answer; but if for early forcing, the elevation will 

 require to be more upright, to admit of the rays of the sun acting sufiiciently 

 powerful in the early part of the season, when the sun is low in the 

 horizon." 



Heating hy Steam. — " As a means of heating upon an extensive scale, 

 we perfectly agree with the most strenuous advocates for steam, as being 

 the most convenient carrier of heat, as well as of its equality of distribution. 

 We are also confident, that nothing injurious to the most tender parts of 

 vegetation ever proceeds from steam, and that fruits and plants may be 

 grown or cultivated in houses heated by steam, as well as in those heated 

 by any other means, provided the general management be equally good in 

 every other respect. 



" But, that steam is the most simple method of heating hot-houses, or 

 that it is more economical, either in point of fuel or erection, we are far 

 from being singular in discrediting; neither do we think that there is any 

 saving in labour. If ashes and coals be distributed to ten or twelve difFei'- 

 ent furnaces, they are generally placed in such places that the delicate eye 

 seldom visits ; few, we believe, excepting the operatives, visit the back sheds 

 of their gardens, where such unsightly objects are to be met with ; but we 

 have seen such places kept as clean and neat as the interior of manj' hot- 

 houses are. We think the necessary care and attention, on the part of the 

 gardener, as much required in attending the boiler and steam apparatus, as 

 in attending to any number of fires necessary to heat an equal space, pro- 

 vided the furnaces and flues be properly constructed. The chimney-tops 

 objected to (although not always the case) often are and might easily be 

 made ornamental, as vases, &c., rather than otherwise ; and if any degree 

 of taste be exercised in their formation and distribution, they become orna- 

 mental, taking off that uniformity and stiff unbroken line, which the top of 

 a garden-wall always presents, unless purposely broken. Arranged in such 

 a way, they will be less offensive to the eye than a vast shaft, towering above 

 every other object, and disgorging a volume of smoke, not much in unison 

 with garden-scenery. Steam-pipes certainly occupy much less space in the 

 houses than smoke flues, which is always desirable ; neither do they re- 

 quire any internal cleaning, which brick flues do ; but they require the in- 

 spection of an engineer, or person of skill, to examine them once or twice 

 a year ; which is much more than the expense of a labourer or bricklayer 

 cleaning the smoke-flues. 



" That insects are effectually kept under in houses heated by steam is 

 not the case; it is dons by good management only. Many who have had 

 them erected have actually pulled them down, and reintroduced the com- 

 mon flues and furnaces ; and a strong proof that they are more expensive is 

 evident, from such eminent gardeners as Lee and Colville, and many others, 

 who have the most extensive ranges of houses round London, not having 

 introduced steam. To such men as those, economy is an olyect, and to 

 such practical men we are to look for precedent, and not to gentlemen, 

 who, from motives of persuasion or scientific curiosity, adopt such pro- 

 jects. An eminent London nurseryman, who had his houses heated by 

 steam, at a great expense, has pulled the whole down, and substituted 

 flues upon the general principle, but improved by his own ingenuity. He 

 calculates a saving both of fuel and labour, taking the loss of the expense 

 of his steam apparatus into account. Another person, long eminent for the 

 cultivation of fruits in the neighbourhood of London, has pulled his down 



