FUEL AND HEATING 229 



In regard to fuel, records show that an average of 

 18 to 20 tons of anthracite coal was the amount used 

 during an ordinary firing season of seven months, November 

 to May, for a greenhouse having 3000 sq. ft. of exposed 

 glass, to maintain a temperature of s^ deg. to 60 deg. 

 This would be at the rate of six or seven tons per 1 000 sq. 

 ft. for the Winter and Spring seasons to maintain a tempera- 

 ture suitable for Carnations. 



The price of coal varies, but in Pennsylvania hard or 

 anthracite coal costs in the neighborhood of $5.50 per ton, 

 carload lots; soft or bituminous coal costs about $2.75 or 

 $2.80 a ton, carload lots, f.o.b. mine. The users of bi- 

 tuminous coal should endeavor to place their orders in 

 the early Spring direct with the mines or their authorized 

 agents, and demand that the coal selected shall be of even 

 quality throughout the whole shipment, necessitating the 

 order being filled from the same mine. Several growers 

 can sometimes purchase co-operatively and so secure dis- 

 counts. In many ways this is a businesslike proceeding. 

 An analysis of the coal can also be procured, and protests 

 have force and advantages are gained by means of co- 

 operative buying. 



The analysis of a good, soft coal appHcable for florists' 

 use is as follows: Volatile and combustible matter, 20 per 

 cent, to 30 per cent.; fixed carbon, 65 per cent, to 75 per 

 cent.; ash, not over 7 per cent.; moisture (when weighed) 

 not over i per cent; British thermal units, 14,300. Soft 

 coal has little effect in clouding the glass of the houses with 

 soot and dirt if the chimney is sufficiently high. If 

 anthracite is used, choose the larger sizes if no night fireman 

 is employed, or where a low pressure is carried. Where a 

 high pressure of steam is necessary the smaller and cheaper 

 grades can be used economically, but this necessitates a 



