Portable Hot-water Apparatus. 21 



cannot be much adhered to in this country with advantage, unless 

 the weather be very warm ; or the plants cultivated be such 

 as do not require a temperature higher than that which our 

 climate at the time affords. In general, it will be found most 

 economical to shut up the house early in the afternoon, so as to 

 have all the advantage of sun heat, and then open the top sashes 

 a little the first thing in the morning, which will allow the close 

 heated air to escape ; and, what is of some consequence, especially 

 when the fruit approaches maturity, it will help to dry the 

 leaves and fruit before the sun's rays become very powerful. 



It will be perceived that these observations are merely general, 

 and do not at all refer to what may be called critical periods in 

 the forcing of fruits, &c. Due attention must also be paid to the 

 native locality of plants, as in some situations plants experience 

 little difference of temperature during day and night. That the 

 system I have pointed out will be attended with less labour and 

 expense than the one generally acted upon requires no demon- 

 stration. The young man who knows experimentally what it is 

 to run about like a lamplighter, giving and taking away air, just 

 as the sun emerges from or enters a cloud ; or who has had his 

 health impaired by a midnight attendance upon furnaces ; in both 

 cases, for the purpose of keeping the thermometer at the ordered 

 degree ; will duly appreciate the ease and comfort with which 

 hot-houses may be managed, by adopting a system more in unison 

 with nature. Diminution in the quantity of fuel will of itself 

 produce a reduction of expenses. To a great many of your 

 readers, there will be nothing new in these remarks ; but, should 

 you judge them likely to be of any use, your publishing them 

 may be the means of leading young gardeners rigidly to scru- 

 tinise all doctrines and opinions for themselves, and may teach 

 them not to be the implicit followers of any man; for, small and 

 confined as my knowledge of the science of gardening is, it has 

 already taught me that, by attending to its dictates, results and 

 advantages will be obtained, which industry and perseverance, 

 unaided by its influence, never could accomplish. 



I am, Sir, yours, &c. 

 Dec. 2,7. 1833. Scienti^e et Justitije Amator. 



Art. V. Description of a portable Hot-toater Apparatus. By Mr. 

 Joshua Major, Landscape-Gardener and Garden Architect. 



Sir, 

 I have sent for your inspection a model of a portable hot- 

 water apparatus, which I have recently constructed, and wish to 

 make known. While designing various fancy structures for a 



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