230 Paxton's Magazine of Botany, 



which vary from 15 in. to 18 in. asunder throughout their whole length, but 

 become more frequent at the farther end, which is closed. The general 

 direction of the holes is upwards, except some few in the bottom, to keep the 

 pipe clear of condensed water. The case being built inclining towards the 

 most convenient spot for draining, the condensed water is taken away by 



a small siphon, about 3 in. or 4 in. deep, as shown in fig. 34. A steam-pipe 

 of 1 in. diameter is sufficient for a case of 50 ft. in length ; and, if proper 

 attention be paid to the dimensions and distance of the holes, which, in this 

 instance, need not be above one sixth closer at the farther end than at the com- 

 mencement, the temperature at one end of the case will scarcely differ perceptibly 

 from that at the other ; an effect utterly unattainable in the best constructed 

 fire-flue, which, in appearance, it so much resembles. There is, however, no 

 particular proportion of the height to the breadth ; that depending entirely on 

 convenience. Where freestone cases are used, it is found necessarj' that 

 they should receive two or three coats of linseed oil, to prevent the escape 

 of steam through them. It is better to give moisture to the house by steam- 

 cocks fixed at the top of the cases, as shown in fig, 34. \ humidity can then be 

 regulated at pleasure." 



Art. II. 1. Paxton's Magazine of Botany and Register of Flowering Plants. 

 By Joseph Paxton, F.L.S. H.S., Editor of the Horticultural Register, &c. 

 Nos. I., II., and III., for February, March, and April, 1834. Small 4to„ 

 2s. each. 



2. Maund's Botanic Garden. In monthly Numbers. Small 4to. Is. each. 



3. Harrison's Floricidtural Cabinet. In monthly Numbers. 8vo. 6d. each. 



4. Harrison's Gardener s and Forester's Record. In monthly Numbers. 8vo. 

 6d. each. 



5. Paxton's Horticultural Register. In monthly Numbers. 8vo. Is. each. 



In the introduction to Paxton's Magazine of Botany, we are informed that 

 the high price of some botanical periodicals " places them beyond the reach of 

 most flower cultivators : while the cheap periodicals, although unobjection- 

 able in respect to price, are manifestly defective in other points of greater 

 importance ; the plates they contain bearing but little resemblance to the plants 

 they are intended to represent. To obviate these objections, each number of 

 the Magazine of Botany will contain four engravings of plants, of the natural 

 size, beautifully coloured from original drawings," &c. (p. 2.) The work 

 may, therefore, be considered as something intermediate between the Botanical 

 Register, monthly, at 4s., and the Floricultural Cabinet, monthly, at Qd. It 

 has no pretensions to being an original botanical work; and, therefore, it 

 may fairly be compared with Maund's Botanic Garden, and the Floricultural 

 Cabinet. In estimating its value relatively to these works, the first observ- 

 ation which we shall make is, that figures, " beautifully coloured," of plants 

 already in the nurseries and gardens, are of no value whatever to the practical 

 gardener, beyond that of being ornaments in the line of his profession. What 

 reading gardener, for example, who could afford to expend in books 2s. 

 monthly, would give that sum for a work, the principal recommendation of which 

 is, that it consists of finely coloured engravings of such plants as Ribes san- 

 guineum, Schizanthus retusus, Petunia violacea, and Streptanthera cuprea 

 (the four plants figured in Paxton's No, i.), all of which have been in the 



