HEATING ORCHID HOUSES. 49 



HEATING ORCHID HOUSES. 



"I?OR effecting this, nothing is better than a hot-water apparatus. We 

 J- recommend four-inch pipes, and to put in an excess of piping 

 rather than too little. There is nothing saved by economising the 

 piping, and it is far better to spend a little more money for material at 

 first, than have to make additions afterwards. By having plenty of pipe 

 a less rapid combustion is required, which is bettor for the plants, and the 

 expense is saved in fuel in a very short time. We therefore advise four 

 rows of pipes on each side for the East Indian house, three for the 

 Brazilian, and two for the house devoted to those species from New Grenada, 

 Peru, and some parts of Mexico ; by having four pipes for the plants 

 requiring most heat, one does not require to drive the fire so much on a 

 frosty night. We never raise steam from the pipes ; for plenty of moisture 

 can be obtained without it, by pouring water on the tables and paths, 

 which we consider much better than steam discharged on the plants 

 direct from the hot-water pipes. At the same time, we do not by any 

 means condemn the use of evaporating troughs during the summer 

 months, for these will diffuse throughout the house a most congenial 

 moisture, highly beneficial to the growth of the plants, and the effects of 

 this moisture is very different from that of scalding steam. 



The boiler should be placed outside of the house, and not set under- 

 neath, which is a very bad system. We remember going to see a collec- 

 tion of Orchids where the boiler was so situated, and had been put there to 

 economise heat. The plants were growing very freely at the time, and 

 upon remarking that we should be afraid of smoke getting into the house, 

 we were told there was no fear of that, " for the boiler was well covered 

 over." Only a few months afterwards on calling to see the same collec- 

 tion, we found our fears were realised ; the smoke had got into the house, 

 and had spoilt many of the plants. This is merely mentioned to show 

 the ill effects of a boiler being so set that smoke can get into the house. 

 When outside there is no fear of such a disaster. 



There is more importance in the setting of a boiler than many people 

 imagine, and there are many ways of effecting the operation. It is, how- 

 ever, always best to secure the services of a good bricklayer who has had 

 experience in setting the different kinds of boilers, as they for the most 

 part require different treatment. Many a boiler has been condemned 



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