246 Application of Terrestrial Heat 



With regard to the application of terrestrial heat to vine and 

 other borders (for why may not the London market-gardener 

 take up the subject and apply the principle, particularly in the 

 forcing of his early vegetables), some time must elapse before I 

 can make any particular statement as to results, having only 

 so recently applied the principle. In the meantime, however, I 

 have sufficient evidence to justify my expectations that it will 

 be found not less salutary as applied to the vine, than it is found in 

 its application to the growth of the pine. With respect to the ob- 

 jection that has been urged from what is called " baking the soil," 

 this, it will appear, can never occur; for, in the case of the annual 

 renewal of my pine border or bed, not the smallest appearance 

 of this kind was indicated, nor should I ever expect it where 

 moisture is supplied with the heat. In my vine border, this is 

 obtained by a simple arrangement in the bottom of the front, or 

 pipe, chamber. Nor can the roots ever be injured, for the pipes 

 (if my sagacious friends who object would consider) are not in 

 contact with the soil. Nor shall I be at all sorry or alarmed 

 hereafter at finding some of the roots even in the chamber, 

 where, I have not the least doubt, a moderate portion of their 

 requisite elements, heat and moisture, may in a short time draw 

 them. As to the expense, what is it ? For a border of 50 ft. 

 about 20/. or so are sufficient for the pipes. If what is called 

 shanking of the branches, and shriveling of the berries (which 

 I consider arises chiefly from lowness of temperature induced by 

 wetness of the soil), be thus remedied, then it is nothing; nor 

 do I consider it too much to anticipate that such will be the 

 result. Not by any means do I mean that the principle of appli- 

 cation introduced by me may not be variously modified, and even 

 improved upon ; all I contend for is, that whether it be in close 

 pipes with an evaporating surface, or by circulation in open 

 tile gutters, it will be found safe, salutary, and correct. So 

 much in the mean time on the above subject. 



I now turn for a few moments to notice some remarks respect- 

 ing the arrangement of my "stove for various purposes," which, 

 but for what I feel I owe the public, for whom I act and write, I 

 should have passed by in silence. These remarks, it will be re- 

 membered, appeared in this Magazine in the course of the past 

 year, first under the suspicious mask of an anonymous name, and 

 next, from what appears a source not far removed from the 

 above, namely, from a Mr. Hutchinson, but of where he does not 

 tell. Now every man, I admit, has a perfect right, in this respect, 

 to write as he likes, if he chooses it ; but it is a sort of cow- 

 ardly shooting-behind-the-hedge system that I confess I dis- 

 like, and never shall countenance, neither, I trust, practise. 

 If I am to be cut down, let it be in the fair, broad, stirring 

 battle field, where I can see and measure my antagonist; and 



