40 How TO Grow Cut Flowees. 



dent capacity to do the work required, but so con- 

 nected that a change can be made at short notice in 

 case a flue should collapse, or for any other reason one 

 should become disabled. Many years ago, an accident 

 of this kind occurred with the writer, and had it not 

 been that it was during a " January thaw " when the 

 thermometer did not fall below 60 at any time during 

 the six days required for repairs, it would have been a 

 serious matter and resulted in great loss. At the time 

 alluded to, the work was being done by one thirty horse 

 power locomotive boiler. One morning a crack was 

 found in the crown sheet, from which water enough 

 soon escaped to render firing impossible. Examination 

 developed the fact that between the bars which held it 

 in position, a deposit of scale and mud had formed, suf- 

 ficient to prevent water from reaching the sheet and 

 counteracting the heat of the fire. This fact is cited to 

 show that whatever our heating system, boilers should 

 be carefully examined every season before commencing 

 a winter's work. 



The second thing to be observed is the setting of 

 j'our boiler. A perfect circulation of steam should be 

 obtained with a pressure of two pounds or less, and it 

 is desirable to return the condensation directly to the 

 boiler without the intervention of traps or pumps of 

 any kind. To do this, it is necessary to have the boiler 

 lower than the return pipes. If you are building on 

 descending ground, have your boiler pit at the lowest 



