5M 



THE PRACTICAL GARDENER. 



forcing-houses, over that of every other method liitlierto used, 

 are many, and have been ah*eady decided. The important 

 object of an almost equal distribution of heat into every part 

 of the liouse, is attained, which has long been a desideratum, 

 and which none before have accomplished. The water in the 

 pipes, or reservoir, at the extremity of a house sixty feet long, 

 is found to be within a few degrees of that in the boiler; thus 

 giving a very equal temperature into all parts of the house. 



The body of water, once heated in the boiler, pipes, and 

 reservoir, is long in giving out all its particles of heat to the 

 atmosphere of the house, even after the fire has long ceased 

 to burn. Thus the person who has the charge of the fires 

 may safely go to bed at nine o'clock, and by seven next morn- 

 ing find his house at nearly the same temperature in which he 

 left it. This can never be relied upon when smoke-flues are 

 used. The more capacious the boiler, pipes, and reservoir 

 are, the longer will they continue to give out their heat. 



The heat given out by hot water is free from all sulphureous 

 and noxious gasses, which smoke-flues, however well con- 

 structed, or however good the fuel may be that is used, are 

 evidently charged with, and which escape through the joints 

 of the flues. It is really surprising, that we have been able to 

 cultivate plants and fruits, natives of tropical countries, and 

 of exquisite beauty and flavor, in an atmosphere so bad as 

 that of our plant-stoves and forcing-houses, in the manner 

 tlicy have been hitherto heated. 



That there is a very material saving in the expense of fuel, 

 a very important consideration, and the principal cause that 

 has prevented the more general erection of hot-houses in this 

 country, is allowed by every one that has tried the hot-water 

 mode of heating. 



The expense of the first erection is somewhat more than 

 brick-flues, and infinitely less than steam. The durability is 

 much longer than that of either. The annual expense none ; 

 for, if once properly erected, it will last for years, and requires 

 no cleaning nor repairs. 



The materials used are cast-iron, for the boiler, pipes, and 

 reservoir ; and probably no substitute will be found to answer 

 better. In most cases, the pipes hitherto used have been 



