WATERING, 



277 



this work as to leave us little to add here, beyond the recommendation of 

 laying down a sufficient number of pipes, if for hot water, or properly 

 constructed flues, if heating by that means be preferred, and to bear in 

 mind that it is better to have two small furnaces to one house than one 

 large one, both for the more equal diffusion of heat and economy of fuel. 



WATER. 



Water being an element so essentially necessary to the existence of 

 plants, and as it is required in abundance where tropical plants are grown, 

 we would recommend that it be laid on by pipes from some convenient 

 source, and that arrangements should be made for retaining that which 

 faills on the roof in time of rain in a tank, cistern, or reservoir of suffici- 

 ent capacity to contain a supply during the droughts of summer, at which 

 time it is most required. This cistern should be placed over the fire- 

 place, or near to it, so that the water it contains may always be of a 

 proper temperature for immediate application to the plants. And that 

 this may be the more completely accomphshed, a pipe of two inches 

 diameter or so may be carried down from the cistern to the side of the 

 furnace; but without bringing it in immediate contact with the fire, 

 merely passing it along one side of the furnace and making it re-enter the 

 cistern again near to its surface. The column of water occupying this 

 pipe wiU become heated by passing along near to the fire : a circulation 

 wlQ thus be created^ which wiU. render the whole mass of water in the 

 cistern of a genial warmtli, and fit for use. A mode of diffusing water in 

 Stoves has been long in operation in the extensive palm stove of Messrs. 

 Loddiges, by means of small leaden pipes, arranged over the inner surface 

 of the roof: these pipes being perforated with many small holes, and being 

 subjected to considerable pressure, when the water is let on, it is thrown 

 over the house like a fine shower of rain. This is a most ingenious mode 

 of watering, and well calculated for the purpose ^lessrs. Loddiges in- 

 tended it, \\iiich is, to water their immense palms and other very large 

 tropical trees, which, from their great size, are not likely to be injured 

 by too copious a supply : for smaller and more deUcate plants, however, 

 and for plant-stoves in general, this plan is objectionable, because the 

 diffusion is so equal over the whole house that such plants as do not 

 require it, nay, that may be injured by it, have an equal share with 

 those which require it the most. The application of water being a matter 

 of much consequence to all plants, an injudicious use of it by giving too 

 much is as bad as giving too httle. Plants, therefore, when considered 



