30 How TO Grow Cut Flowers. 



case. There is no question but that the ideal method 

 is by steam generated by natural gas, both for its clean- 

 liness as well as the ease with which it is cared for when 

 once in working order. To only a few highly favored 

 individuals has this great boon been given, while the 

 rest of us must see much of the profits roll into the 

 furnace in the form of " trust " anthracite, or if we seek 

 a cheaper article and fall back upon bituminous coal, 

 we are not only sufferers ourselves, but our neighbors, 

 if we have any, proclaim us a nuisance. But notwith- 

 standing dust, dirt, and ribald tongue, we must each 

 burn what is the most economical, for the profits are 

 not large, as many suppose them to be, and our product 

 must enter the markets in competition with that of 

 men of wealth to whom, it matters little whether their 

 investment pays expenses or not, so long as they per- 

 sonally have what they wish to use, and can sell enough 

 to help out on the salary of the gardener. 



The question of fuel must largely control the kind 

 of boiler we adopt. If natural gas, then a marine will 

 be found to be a great heat producer. If anthracite, 

 such as have proved to be the most economical in the 

 sections where that coal is used. If bituminous, such 

 boilers must be selected as will produce the best com- 

 bustion and thus aid the fireman in his efforts to keep 

 the smoke at a minimum. 



The original method of heating, now nearly obsolete, 

 was bv means of brick flues, and while the more common 



