36 " Weekes's Mode of heating 



valid, or whether Mr. Perkins has made sufficient provision 

 against all the accidents to which such apparatus is liable, 

 does not as yet appear determined by public opinion. But if 

 there be any such thing as a just medium between the fierce 

 and fugitive effects of the light, and the more expensive and 

 dilatory action of the heavy, apparatus ; and if permanence of 

 effect be an indispensable property of such contrivances, in the 

 business of forcing ; then we would say that the newly invented 

 boiler and apparatus of Mr. Weekes, horticultural builder, of 

 the King's Road, Chelsea, promise to be, as stated in the 

 published opinion [Vol. VI IL p. 595.] of Mr, J. Knight, of 

 the Exotic Nursery, Chelsea (for whom a small one has been 

 erected), more effective than any other plan yet offered to 

 public notice. 



This invention, though very different in construction, is 

 evidently a union of Mr. Perkins's principle of applying the 

 fire, with a new arrangement of the conducting tubes. A 

 complicated boiler produces almost instant effect, and the 

 complication of the circulating pipes not only gives extent 

 of radiating surface, but a sufficient body of heated fluid to be 

 depended on, when the manager is asleep. The whole is an 

 obvious improvement of Mr. Weekes's flat conductors ; and 

 the facility with which steam can be admitted into houses 

 thus heated adds greatly to the utility of the plan. The 

 narrow space occupied by Mr. Weekes's pipes is also a great 

 recommendation, whether as applicable to hot-houses of con- 

 fined dimensions, or to public or private buildings. For the 

 vestibules or halls of large mansions the invention is, more- 

 over, appropriate; as the pipes may be cast into the most 

 elegant shapes, and, with gratings or curtains of brass or 

 other polished metal, the most ornamental pieces of furniture 

 may be designed. The conductors may be carried in any 

 direction, and as well belcxv the fireplace as above it. 



Whether we have reached, or are only approaching, the 

 acme of this use of fire and water, for the purposes and ad- 

 vancement of gardening, I know not ; but, judging from what 

 has already been accomplished, and contemplating the bound- 

 less prospect before us, we may still expect results of which, 

 at present, we have no kind of conception. 



J. M. 

 6, Union Bow, Chelsea, October, 18S2. 



The principle on which Mr. Weekes's apparatus acts will be readily 

 understood by the following diagram (j%. 1.), in which a is a section of 

 the fireplace, surrounded by cast-iron tubes, the uppermost of which com- 



