HEATING BY HOT WATER. 313 



route into tlie retum-opening of tlie lioiler. This is giving 

 tlie water a long journey, and the return-pipes will he found 

 comparatively cold by the time the water gets to the boiler. 

 'Now, if instead of this the whole four pipes be connected 

 with the flow-pipe, and go round the front and end of the 

 house nearly on a level, and start along the back down a de- 

 cline to the boiler, and there plunge down the drop-pipe into 

 the retum-opening of the boiler, it will be found that 

 whUe any portion of the pipes may not be quite so hot 

 as the beginning of the two flow-pipes in the former 

 case, there will not be any portion of them nearly so 

 cold as the last portion of the return. I do not say 

 that this is the best way to conduct the water; but 

 I have proved from experience that the arrangement in- 

 dicated is the better of the two named, when the pipes are, 

 from any necessary conditions, laid aU round the house in 

 this way. 



The supply of waste-water to the boiler and pipes is often 

 placed anywhere that looks most convenient ; but the proper 

 place is to attach the supply-cistern to the return-pipe some- 

 where near the boiler. Fixed to the flow, the water will be 

 frequently plunged out by the upward tendency of the 

 hottest water. It is also very undesirable to leave the 

 supply-cistern to be kept full either by pouring in water 

 from a pot or by turning a tap, which is often neglected. 

 There should always be a cistern supplied by the action of a 

 ball-cock, and then the anxiety connected with the neglect 

 of supply does nofexist. 



Eegarding boilers, it is difiicult to say which among many 

 good ones are best. The upright tubulars are powerful, but 

 expensive, and require deep stoke-holes and good fuel. Some 

 of the improved forms of the old saddle-boUer are excellent ; 

 so are the cruciforms, which, Hke the saddles, burn any sort 

 of fuel and are easily set. Eor amateurs requiring to heat 

 only one small house, the smallest form of Meiklejon's retort 

 is excellent and cheap. 



