22 Portable Hot-<water Apparatus, 



gentleman's pleasure-grounds, I was led to suppose that some- 

 thing like the apparatus now sent might be advantageously ap- 

 propriated to such of them as require some little artificial heat. 

 My chief aim was to avoid the appearance of smoke and chim- 

 neys, which cannot usually be dispensed with, in the case of the 

 introduction of coal or wood fires ; and my next object was, to 

 have the apparatus portable, so as to be able to remove it from 

 place to place, as it might be wanted. It is probable the appa- 

 ratus may be advantageously used, in small frames, to assist any 

 insufficient heat in severe weather; and I think it could not 

 fail also to be useful, were it introduced into some of the small 

 green-houses which are frequently to be met with in the metropolis 

 and other large towns; and which, being generally destitute of 

 any mode of supplying heat artificially, seldom, if ever, exhibit 

 healthy plants. 



I have employed this portable hot-water apparatus in warming 

 one of the entrances of the conservatory formerly belonging to 

 Bretton Hall (VIII. 361.), but which is now connected with a 

 gentleman's drawing-room, for the reception of plants as they 

 come into flower, which could not conveniently be warmed in any 

 other way ; and, while writing this, I have received an order for 

 one to be sent into Lincolnshire, of the size here described, for a 

 very small green-house, 9 ft. by 6 ft., which, no doubt, will be 

 quite sufficient for a place of that extent. 



The apparatus may be made of tin or copper; the latter, 

 though, of course, it would cost more at first, would, owing to 

 its durability, in the end, no doubt, be the cheapest. Charcoal 

 is employed for heating the apparatus ; oil lamps have been tried 

 instead of it, but with not near so good an effect. As it is ne- 

 cessary to employ pipes to conduct the effluvium (arising from 

 the charcoal) out of the place required to be warmed, it will, in 

 order to secure all the heat possible, be of importance to intro- 

 duce a sufficient length to allow the whole heat to pass off, 

 before the ends of the pipes are turned to the outside. In order 

 to make the smoke conductors suitable for any situation, it is 

 only necessary, in addition to the elbow-pipes, to be provided 

 with several lengths of straight pipes, placing one elbow upon 

 the permanent smoke conductor connected with the fire, and the 

 other at the extremity, or midway, of the piping, as it may be 

 required. The largest-sized apparatus could not well be more 

 than 8 ft. long; as, if larger, it would be inconvenient to move 

 about. The size of the one which appears the most useful is as 

 follows: — The whole height of the centre portion of the apparatus, 

 comprising the boiler, &c, is 15 in., and width 5^ in. by 7£in.; 

 the fire-pan is 5f in. by 4 J in., and 3 J in. deep; surrounded on 

 three sides by a boiler half an inch in diameter, which becomes 

 more spacious upwards as the fireplace diminishes. The opening 



