m 
GENERAL MANAGEMENT OF GREENHOUSES. 
fire is indispensable to secure them from injury. Heat may be conveyed by means 
of either fines, hot- water pipes, or steam. 
By whatever means the heat is conveyed, the construction must be such as that 
the heat given out will speedily raise the temperature of the house ; because, in 
case of a sudden frost, were the increase of heat slow, the plants might be destroyed 
before the remedy could be applied. 
As no greenhouses require artificial heat more than six weeks or two months at 
most in a year, and in some cases not half that time, we would recommend common 
flues to be used in preference to hot-water pipes; yet in plant stoves, where con- 
siderable heat is regularly required, hot-water pipes may be used advantageously, 
if properly constructed. Chanter’s improved patent smoke-burner is the best kind 
of fire-place in use, where a quick and good command of heat is required, being 
a combination of great chemical and mechanical knowledge; it was invented by 
Mr. Witty, civil engineer. In the first place, there is a Carbonising plate or shelf 
constructed, on which the coal is submitted to two processes ; viz., carbonisation 
and combustion. Over the carbonising plate is formed an arch of fire-tile, or 
Stourbridge brick ; the arch radiates sufficient heat to produce a powerful effect 
upon the coal, which instantly gives out plentiful streams of carburetted hydrogen 
gas. The gas being thus formed at a high temperature, is immediately inflamed 
by a due proportion of atmospheric air rushing through the heated coke at the 
bottom of the furnace, which, meeting the gas, produces a brilliant and lasting fire, 
and from its purity of flame prevents soot from lodging in the flues, if common 
attention be given at the first lighting, and it can be kept in for months together, 
without re-lighting, if required. 
Mr. Chanter, a short time ago, furnished us with a list of testimonials in a book, 
with a drawing of the construction of the furnace, and he referred us particularly to 
the report of Messrs. Wilmot of Isle worth, Macintosh of Claremont, and other prac- 
tical and celebrated horticulturists, which he felt aware would convince us of the 
great importance and utility of the furnace for all purposes ; we were, however, con- 
vinced previous to this, having had some erected at Chatsworth. The great injury 
and annoyance arising to conservatories, gardens, and neighbouring dwellings, under 
all preceding constructions of furnaces or stoves, are, by this improved invention, 
wholly and most perfectly removed. In the interior, under the highest temperature 
ever required, the heat is genial and bland ; no particle of smoke or suffocating 
vapour is perceptible to the senses, or by those tests which can, under such cir- 
cumstances, be applied. The flue has been opened, and at 80° appears to contain 
or convey nothing but a perfectly sweet moist heat ; nothing escapes from the 
chimney but a slight steam, and probably carbonic acid gas, as pale and as harmless 
as the steam from the waste pipe of a steam engine. A similar relief from nuisances, 
and from much greater injury, is obtained by the adoption of this furnace in delicate 
manufactures, in dyeing, bleaching, washing, brewing, &c. ; and in chemical manu- 
factures. With regard to profit arising from a diminished consumption of fuel, 
the advantage, varying from one-quarter to one-third, is common to all cases what- 
ever, from the domestic stove to the vast engines which, in their operation, render 
the mines of our country almost as valuable as its surface. 
