208 
ZINC FOR HORTICULTURAL PURPOSES. 
highly ornamental when well painted of a stone or marble colour, or whatever 
other colour may accord best with the apartment. Of course such stands should 
be immediately emptied after every watering, by a small ornamental tap, unless 
the plants are in Hunt's patent pots, or elevated so that the hole in the bottom 
may stand clear above the water. 
But perhaps the best application of zinc which has yet been made, is in the 
manufacture of hand-glasses. Our woodcut represents one of an improved form, 
which Messrs. Rollisson had constructed 
three or four years ago for propagational 
purposes, and, as it gave the greatest 
satisfaction, the plan has since been very 
extensively employed in their nursery 
at Tooting. The framework is formed 
entirely of zinc, and divided into squares 
by zinc bars, with a ledge for the glass 
to rest upon. The squares of glass are 
fixed with putty, which is afterwards 
painted with a lead colour. On the 
top of the framework there is a wire handle attached to two small upright pieces 
of zinc, for convenience in shifting the glass from place to place ; and imme- 
diately beneath the handle are two small lids of zinc, hinged upon a wire in the 
middle, running from one of the raised pieces of zinc to the other. These lids 
together cover an aperture about four inches square. The upright plate of zinc at 
each end is intended to keep the lids or ventilators open ; and they are set so 
close as to be capable of holding them up at any angle, without other support. 
These hand-glasses are lighter than those constructed with leaden frames ; and 
as zinc is less pliable than lead, they are not so apt to be put out of form by an 
accidental blow ; hence they economise glass. The ventilators at the top are 
obviously for the purpose of allowing the admission of air to cuttings after they are 
struck, and thus preparing them for the entire removal of the hand-glass. As 
glass is now much cheaper, larger panes may be employed, and some of the cross- 
bars dispensed with. Miniature greenhouses, for growing plants in rooms, may 
be constructed of the same materials, and after a variety of ornamental designs. 
Before quitting the subject, we may observe that galvanised iron, (which is iron 
coated with zinc by a particular process,) has also been used in several ways con- 
nected with Horticulture ; but until the merits of the material have been more fully 
tested, it would be premature to offer an opinion. Watering-pots, however, have 
been in use for the last twelve months, and are so far satisfactory ; at the Hammer- 
smith Nursery, Messrs. Lee have employed it for open hot-water gutters to heat 
pits ; at Brooklands, it has been formed into hot-water pipes for a vinery ; and it 
has been used largely for roofing sheds in various places. 
