March 17, 1881. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
215 
conjunction with another flap at the mouth of the air channel, enable 
the warmth to be got up very rapidly in a cold room—thus : The 
flap admitting the air from the outside is closed and the doors d d 
opened. The result is that the air of the apartment is drawn in at 
doors D D and passed through the coil, and this process goes on until 
the whole of the air in the apartment is warmed, when the flap at 
the mouth of the channel is again opened and the flap D D closed. 
Used in this manner the coil is at least 40 per cent, more powerful 
than an ordinary coil of the same size.” 
We have carefully inspected the working of this apparatus, 
and can testify that its action was thoroughly satisfactory. The 
influx of warmed air as tested by the anemometer was even 
greater than represented by the above table, and when a little 
ammonia was poured in the box outside the house communicating 
with the coil, the fumes in a few moments pervaded the apart¬ 
ment. Many practical gardeners admit the value of ammonia 
in vineries and Cucumber houses, and obtain it by placing guano 
in the evaporating troughs, believing that it not only invigorates 
the Vines and plants but is an antidote against insects. By the 
use of this apparatus as much warm air, moist or dry, as is needed 
Fig. 52. 
can be admitted to a structure during the coldest days, and as 
much ammonia as is good for the crops can be provided, and a 
great deal moie ; but this of course is at the command of the 
cultivator, who must exercise his judgment in this matter. 
CALANTHES AT DRUMLANRIG. 
I bead with great pleasure the interesting article by “Pabagon” 
on “ Drumlanrig in Winter,” at page 165, in which reference was 
made to the Calanthes grown there. During the dull winter 
months these beautiful flowers are not surpassed by any for 
utility or elegance, and hints or suggestions as to their improved 
culture are naturally received with satisfaction. The remarks 
of “ Pabagon,” however, appear to me somewhat complicated. 
He states that at the time of his visit (midwinter) the pseudo¬ 
bulbs were being potted and promised well for flowering. It 
would be interesting to know at what period of their growth 
Mr. Thomson pots his Calanthes. Does he pot them after the 
flower spikes appear ? It is the custom of many to pot after the 
flowering is over and the plants have had a period of rest. 
