REMARKS ON WOOIJ AM) METAL. 72-5 
gard to his friend's observation : — that it answers better fur peaches 
than nectarines, it is utterly unfounded, being completely at variance 
with our observations : we find little or no difficulty with any except 
weak trees of some of the white peaches, which are thin of wood-buds ; 
but this is very seldom the case with nectarines. 
Wm. Seymour. 
Palace Gardens, Bishopslhorp, iiear York,} 
Auyvst Vith, 1832. \ 
ARTICLE IV. 
COMPARATIVE REMARKS ON WOOD AND METAL, AS 
CONDUCTORS OF HEAT. 
BV MR. CUR. 
As "Ephebicus Horticultor," has with somt- warmth, criticised a letter 
I wrote in behalf of metallic hot-houses; I consider it requisite to 
make some reply, in defence of what I there advanced. Mr, E. H. 
says, I ascertained, that metal and wood were equal conductors of 
heat, if kept well painted ; what I meant was, that wood and metal 
are equal conductors of the heat of the sun, or of our atmosphere, 
and not of water and sand, &c. Mr. E. H. appearing to have a 
pretty competent knowledge of the properties of Caloric, must be 
aware of the difference of its conduction in one element, to that of 
another; were he to take equal sized rods of metal and wood, both 
being well painted, and half covered with wax, as directed by him- 
self, page 683, and place them in fhe sun-shine in an erect position, 
he w ould soon see the equallization of the conduction of Caloric, for 
the wax on the wood would melt equally as soon as that on the me- 
tal, and I conceive this to be the more proper way of trying an 
experiment with regard to hot-houses, for the rafters are never 
immersed in water or sand. Mr. E. H. says, "when I placed the 
pieces of wood and iron against the south wall, I made my observa- 
tions on the same side I applied the heat, and if I had felt the op- 
posite side, I should have found a great difference ; this is asserted 
with as much assurance as though he had been present. Now I can 
assure him, I felt on both sides, and found no difference ; I am also 
in the habit of examining wood and metal rafters every day, (half of 
my houses being constructed of metal,) and were there any material 
difference, I could not fail to have observed it. My pines were ne- 
