208 
ZINC FOR HORTICULTURAL PURPOSES. 
highly ornamental when well painted of a stone or marble colour, or whatev 
other colour may accord best with the apartment. Of course such stands shou 
be immediately emptied after every watering, by a small ornamental tap, unle 
the plants are in Hunt’s patent pots, or elevated so that the hole in the botto' 
may stand clear above the water. 
But perhaps the best application of zinc which has yet been made, is in tli 
manufacture of hand-glasses. Our woodcut represents one of an improved fori 
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 piecj; 
of zinc, for convenience in shifting the glass from place to place ; and immi 
diately beneath the handle are two small lids of zinc, hinged upon a wire in tl| 
middle, running from one of the raised pieces of zinc to the other. These li 
together cover an aperture about four inches square. The upright plate of zinc 
each end is intended to keep the lids or ventilators open ; and they are set 
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 ; ai 
as zinc is less pliable than lead, they are not so apt to be put out of form by j 
accidental blow ; hence they economise glass. The ventilators at the top ajl 
obviously for the purpose of allowing the admission of air to cuttings after they a” 
struck, and thus preparing them for the entire removal of the hand-glass, i" 
glass is now much cheaper, larger panes may be employed, and some of the cro 
bars dispensed with. Miniature greenhouses, for growing plants in rooms, ms 
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 ire 
coated with zinc by a particular process,) has also been used in several ways co 
nected with Horticulture ; but until the merits of the material have been moreful' 
tested, it would be premature to offer an opinion. Watering-pots, however, ha 
been in use for the last twelve months, and are so far satisfactory ; at the Hamme^ 
smith Nursery, Messrs. Lee have employed it for open hot-water gutters to hei^ 
pits ; at Brooklands, it has been formed into hot- water pipes for a vinery ; and 
has been used largely for roofing sheds in various places. 
