for heating Hot-houses by hot Water. 131 



will soon be before the public ; it is therefore but justice that Mr. 

 Hogg, the original inventor, should have his share of the merit. 

 I suggested to Mr. Shewin this week to make small boilers, 

 or rather steamers, on this principle, for steaming houses and 

 frames in summer, when no fires are at work, and for smoking 

 houses or frames by the steam of tobacco liquor ; or by a de- 

 coction of common tobacco leaves. This is a novel plan for 

 destroying insects, but I am fully satisfied it would answer better 

 than the present mode of smoking. The vapour would con- 

 dense and fall down on the plants in the form of dew, whereas 

 smoke soon finds its way out at every crevice. Many other de- 

 coctions or solutions might be tried in this way, for the destruction 

 of scale, bug, or even wood-lice, when something effectual for 

 the destruction of these creatures might be found out, and on 

 which the operative chemist might try his ingenuity. I saw a 

 vessel in shape between a tea-kettle and watering-pot used for 

 steaming houses twenty years ago. Many other contrivances 

 for the same purpose have been tried since, and found to be 

 very beneficial ; that by Mr. Forest, at Syon Gardens, is very 

 effectual ; but this by the conical boiler is the simplest and 

 cheapest that can be used. A gentleman in this neighbourhood 

 used a most elaborate and expensive machine for the same pur- 

 pose last summer, and with perfect success. The conical boiler, 

 for these purposes, should have the inner or furnace part in the 

 form of a cylinder, from 6 in. to 10 in. wide, and from 10 in. to 

 14 in. high ; the outer part may either be a cylinder or cone, at 

 pleasure ; the top should screw on, and have a short pipe fixed 

 in it for filling it, to which another pipe of the required length, 

 and with a vmiversal joint, should be fixed for conveying the 

 steam into the house or frame, which might be done through a 

 pane of glass in front, or in any other way more convenient. A 

 movable sheet-iron box should be attached to the bottom to 

 receive the ashes, and the whole might be mounted on a barrow 

 similar to that of a small watering engine : such a boiler or 

 steamer might be got for 405. or 50s., and it would last two or 

 three lifetimes if properly taken care of. What a nice plan for 

 smoking or rather steaming cucumbers, melons, and heaths, 

 which do not like smoke ! I hope Mr. Shewin will attend to 

 these suggestions : every one having house-plants would soon 

 possess one. It might even be taken to the peach wall ; and, by 

 means of the universal joint, a stream of tobacco steam could 

 easily be directed against all parts of the trees ; and the same 

 way with standard roses, &c. By the same means a house 

 could be filled with any sweet odours, to keep down any disagree- 

 able smell from tan, dung, flues, &c. ; but I believe 1 have said 

 enough in its praise to draw public attention to it, 

 - Kingsbury Gardens, Jan. 1840. 



