32. 
PROCEEDINGS eF THE VICTORIA INSTITUTE. 
Monday, 6tii November, 1893. 
Sylvester Devenish, M.A . , Vice-President, in the Chair. 
The following paper was read : — / 
ON VENTILATION IN THE TROPICS. 
By J. H. Hart, F.L.S. 
In approaching this subject, it may be thought by some 
that it can hardly have come within my sphere of study. Some 
apology is due to members therefore, to show my reason for 
taking up and dealing with such a subject. 
Although the subject of ventilation is one which is generally 
considered to belong to the Builder, the Architect, the ' San- 
itary Engineer, or the Medical Officer, yet as a Horticulturist, 
who had for many years to deal with the ventilating of structures 
into which it was essential that a free current of air should be 
maintained as well as a given temperature, I claim it can be 
shown that ere we can properly understand our work, we must 
ha\ e, not only a practical but a theoretical knowledge of the 
principles of ventilation, for without such knowledge, plant 
culture, especially under the artificial conditions which exist in 
temperate climates, must prove a lamentable failure. In fact, the 
only successful men are found to be those who have a thorough 
knowledge of the principles and practice of ventilation. If it be 
asked, what has this to do with tropical ventilation ? I reply that 
a entilation of the kind I have stated, is carried on with the greatest 
delicacy of tieatment in structures where a tropical climate is 
maintained night and day. S 0 that in fact although I did not 
actually reside in the tropics until 1875, still from the year 1862 
o. 31 years ago, my experience in connection with the practice of 
ventilation and a tropical climate, first commenced. 
Th^ ventilation of structures covering or containing an 
artificial tiopical climate is necessary for many reasons. 1st plants 
o not thrive in a place where the air is stagnant or still. The 
son is easily seen when you remember the am all quantity 
