540 



THE PRACTICAL GARDENER. 



large conservatories, and be converted to many other pur]:)0se3 

 connected with domestic economy, as such buildings are usually 

 attached to, or near the dwelling of the owner ; but for hot- 

 houses in gardens, where the extent is not infinitely greater 

 than any that has yet appeared in this country, fire-flues, or 

 the hot-water system, will be found much the cheapest, and 

 will answer every purpose of heating the houses equally well. 



ON HOT AVATER, AS APPLIED TO HEATING HOT-HOUSES, &C. 



For the invention, and introduction into practice, of this 

 really useful and ingenious mode of heating forcing-houses, we 

 arc indebted to the ingenuity and perseverance of William At- 

 kinson, Esq., of Grove End, St. John's Wood, a gentleman, 

 not only eminent in his profession as an architect, but also a 

 zealous promoter of every thing connected with horticultural 

 affairs. 



For many years Mr. Atkinson has paid much attention to 

 the amendment of horticultural architecture, and the improve- 

 ments which he has made in that department reflect the great- 

 est credit on his talents, both as a man of science and a hor- 

 ticulturist. To him we are indebted for many improvements 

 in the construction of vineries and peach-houses for general 

 purposes, and the application of heat, by means of properly- 

 constructed furnaces and flues. 



Mr. Atkinson is not a speculative adviser upon theory only, 

 but he possesses a considerable practical knowledge of the 

 management of hot-houses, having reduced to practice many 

 interesting experiments in his private garden at Grove End. 

 Many years ago, while engaged in making experiments upon 

 the principles of heat, it struck him that water heated was a 

 conductor capable of being turned to account, both for the 

 purpose of heating forcing-houses, as well as for those des- 

 tined for the habitations of man. 



This idea, in the multiplicity of business, had been nearly 

 overlooked or forgotten ; however, happily, his mind became 

 again engaged in the theory, and in 182^ he had a number ot 

 models made of diflerent constructions, and by them he proved 

 the practicability of the theory. These models were made 



