Cheshunt Cottage. „ 665 



to 26/., instead of 52/. ; and this plan, at half the cost of the 

 other, has most completely answered in every respect. No 

 estimate or plan from London has since been required. It may 

 be added, that Mr. Pratt is now satisfied from experience, 

 that economy in fuel and in labour in attending fires, and the 

 avoidance of night-watching, as well as economy in the first cost, 

 are attained by simple instead of by complicated plans. 



"Any required heat, however high, may be given, and distri- 

 buted and regulated by the stop-cocks in the different houses, 

 and retained during the severest weather without any care during 

 the night. Mr. Pratt has ascertained that 420 gallons, the 

 largest quantity of water used in the new houses, can be boiled 

 in an hour ; and, when it is considered that during the greater 

 part of the year, and the whole of that part in which sudden 

 severe cold can occur, the water in the boiler must always be 

 kept at a certain temperature for the use of the pine and or- 

 chideous houses, and generally also let into the botanic house, 

 no difficulty can occur in the other houses. He has found that 

 the upper pipes in the geranium and heath houses become hot in 

 five minutes after the cocks are turned to let in the hot water 

 from the adjoining houses. It must be added, that great care 

 should betaken in the construction of the fireplace and flue; as 

 a most important difference will be found between a wide and ill- 

 constructed fireplace and flue, both in the intensity of heat by any 

 given quantity of fluid, and in the burning of inferior fuel mixed 

 with good ; in the keeping in of the fire, and preventing any ac- 

 cumulation of soot, &c. The fireplaces and flues have all been 

 constructed under Mr. Pratt's own immediate superintendence. 



" The result is, a decided superiority in economy, in first cost, 

 in the use, and in security without-night watching, of simple 

 over complicated plans : and this detail has been given, which 

 might be extended to more minute points if required, in the 

 hope that it may prove useful to amateur gardeners who require 

 hot-houses, and to those who supply apparatus for heating. 

 Many persons deny themselves a luxury they wish to enjoy, from 

 the expense and occasional failures of many of the complicated 

 plans now in use ; and more numerous orders, which would be 

 given if the above objections were remedied, would amply com- 

 pensate those who supply such apparatus. — W. H." 



In the farm-buildings, the fittings up of the poultry-houses, 

 the rabbit-house, and the dairy and dairy scullery, well deserve 

 attention ; and also the arrangement for fermenting the food of 

 the pigs in under-ground cisterns, not too warm for summer, nor 

 so cold as to check fermentation in winter. The manure of the 

 horses, of the cows, of the pigs, of the rabbits, of the pigeons, 

 and of the poultry, is kept in separate pits, that it may be 

 used, if desirable, in making up different composts. 

 Vol. XV. — No. 117. y y 



