226 



THE CENTURY BOOK OF GARDENING. 



Blue Plumbago, climbing Fuchsias, or the deep purple Lasiandra macrantha are climbers 

 one may well possess for their graceful growth and flower colouring. In the alphabetical list a 

 small selection of climbers is given, all of much beauty and interest. 



Beneath the stages Ferns may be established, and if Zonal Pelargoniums are grown 

 for the winter it is astonishing how bright the greenhouse may be kept with a well chosen 

 selection of these popular flowers. The indoor garden, or greenhouse, as it is usually 

 called, may in truth be made an interesting abode for flowers sent to us from abroad 

 and raised by hybridising in our own land. Amateurs frequently make mistakes in 

 heating their greenhouses, so the general remarks may well conclude with reference to this 

 matter. 



HEATING GREENHOUSES. — This is an important subject for amateur gardeners in 

 particular. If things work smoothly, ift. of boiler surface will heat about 30ft. of 4m. pipes. 

 All glasshouses, if more than 20ft. long, should be heated by a boiler and hot-water pipes. 

 The most serviceable boiler is the check end saddle, although for small houses the Paragon 

 is not without merit, and it can be set in the brickwork at the end of the house. But the 

 difficulty with these and other similar boilers is their small capacity fur fuel. They require 

 frequent attention, and the fuel must be broken up small. Too often, however, the experience 

 of the one boiler system, where several houses have to be heated — some of which may be 

 a little distance from the boiler — is not favourable. There is generally too much friction in 

 the system to be economical. In all cases the boiler should be large enough to perform its work 

 in severe weather, and there is no economy in stinting the pipes in proportion to the work 

 required. Whatever boiler be used, the proper setting is important if the full amount of 

 work is to be obtained from it, especially as regards the size of the flues. When the 

 setting is left to a bricklayer, the flues are frequently too small. No flue, not even for 

 a small boiler, should be less than 5 i n . wide, and for boilers capable of heating 600ft. of 

 pipes the flues should be from 6in. to 7m. in diameter. They should also be thoroughly 

 well built, and the corners made smooth, to lessen the friction as much as possible. 

 Brush out the flues frequently with the flue brush, and clear with the hoe, as a boiler 

 coated with soot cannot perform its duties satisfactorily. The shaft or chimney should 

 be high enough to secure a steady draught, so as to consume all the fuel thoroughly 

 and leave the heat round the boiler. Slow combustion is the correct principle to go 

 upon, and this requires space in flues and chimney, with the damper never out, except 

 for a short time when the fire is burning up. Good stokers are rare, and it is 

 difficult to induce stokers, especially boys, to consider how the fuel may be economised. 



Small houses may often be economically heated by gas, which may cost rather 

 more than coke, but, of course, gives little trouble ; when a fire is required quickly, 

 lighting a tire and raking out ashes is dirty work, and unless the apparatus is kept clean 

 the results are unsatisfactory. It is best to put the fixing of a gas boiler in the hands of 

 a gas engineer who thoroughly understands his work. 



Heating by oil lamps or stoves will suffice for small houses so long as personal 

 attention can be given to the cleaning, trimming, and lighting of the lamp or stove, 

 but when left to young servants trouble soon comes, in the shape of evil odours, smoke, 

 and scorched plants. It is necessary, in dealing with oil lamps or stoves, to keep in mind 

 the old adage that if you want a thing done well you must do it yourself. 



It may be considered incorrect to praise in any way the old-fashioned flues, but in 

 several places they are carrying on good and economical work, burning up all the cinders 

 and waste matters about the house, the sort of fuel that would be useless in a small boiler. 



The greenhouse is frequently a source of infinite pleasure, and may be made use of, 

 in a measure, as a store place for tender plants brought in from the summer garden, 

 especially where the indoor garden, so to say, is confined to a single structure. Ferns and 

 window or room plants in general may be removed thither to recover, after repotting in 



