50 orchid-grower's manual. 



through its being badly set, and the work having been indifferently carried 

 out. There is another important point in connection with boilers, i.e., 

 they should be kept clean, and the flues freed from soot and dust, which 

 not only greatly impedes the draught but diminishes the heating power. 

 Care should also be used in stoking the fire, for a good deal of fuel may 

 be wasted by injudicious management, more especially as some kinds of 

 boilers do not take as much fuel as others. The man in charge, if he 

 takes a proper interest in his work, will however soon become acquainted 

 with the requirements of the different boilers under his management. 



Hot-water boilers are now made of numerous shapes and patterns, and 

 as most cultivators have some predilection in this matter, we leave them 

 to make their own selection. There are, however, many things to be 

 thought of before deciding this question. If the locality is such as to 

 render it impracticable to dig far down into the ground before reaching 

 vrater, or to prevent a drain from being put below the boiler, then the 

 upright form of boiler is neither suitable nor safe ; for in cases of flood 

 during winter, the water may rise and put out the fire unless the stoke- 

 hole is made watertight, which is usually a troublesome and expensive 

 process. We, however, by no means depreciate boilers of this type. 

 Then we have cannon boilers, tubular boilers, common saddle boilers, 

 terminal saddle boilers, tubular arched saddle boilers, double L saddle 

 boilers. Gold Medal boilers, improved tubular boilers, Cornish boilers, 

 cruciform boilers, duplex compensating boilers, and boilers that require 

 no setting, the makers of each and all being able to give what are to them 

 satisfactory reasons why the particular form they adopt is the best. That 

 we have this diversity amongst boilers is no doubt a great advantage, for 

 one that may work admirably in one place, may not, through some 

 peculiarity of place or position, be so thoroughly satisfactory in another. 

 Moreover, the fuel most readily available in one place, and which may 

 suit one class of boiler, may not be so readily obtained in another place, 

 and therefore those who are so situated will naturally have recourse to a 

 boiler adapted to consume the fuel which they can obtain for heating it. 

 "When a good draught can be obtained we have found anthracite coal the 

 best fuel for most kinds of boilers; it is more lasting than coke, is 

 smokeless, and gives out twice as much heat, and is altogether a cheaper 

 and much better article, although more costly in the first outlay. 



