November 27, 1884. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
475 
COMING EVENTS 
S7 
th 
Rnyal Society at 4.30 r M. 
28 
p 
Quekett Club at 8 p.m. 
29 
s 
80 
SUN 
1st Sunday in Advent. 
1 
M 
2 
TU 
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W 
Society of Arts at 8 p.m. 
FIRING. 
ANY useful articles have appeared from time to 
time on this subject, and it is doubtful whether 
we can point to one of more importance in the 
interest of employers and employed. It is not 
my rule to speak or write disparagingly in any 
degree regarding the rising generation of gar¬ 
deners; yet this I do say, that young men as 
a rule do not pay nearly so much attention to 
this part of their calling as they ought. 
If strict order and system are needed at all it is in firing, 
for in moderately large establishments even it does not 
require much argument to prove how easily the amount paid 
to one man may be wasted. Certainly there are such a 
variety of boilers nowadays that some experience is needed to 
best manage them. I have had a fair amount of experience with 
different kinds, but never yet could I justly condemn one of 
them as distinctly inferior, though of course some appeared 
to be more easily managed than others. I would almost 
venture to say that one thing needful to make a competent 
gardener is that every young man should be taught to fit up 
hot-water apparatus whenever such work is proceeding. I 
had early the benefit of such training, and ever since have 
I had a desire to gain as much knowledge as possible. In 
changing situations or taking a new charge I make it my first 
object to thoroughly investigate the boilers, valves, and pipes. 
Returning to the matter of firing, I say that a good system 
is of equal benefit to all persons. It is sometimes almost 
deplorable to see a young man come out of the stokehole 
with hat and clothes powdered with ashes, to say nothing of 
dust taken to be digested. This suffocating kind of stoking 
is not necessary, and where there is such the employer will 
have to pay liberally for it either in injury through want of 
heat or over-consumption of fuel. Anyone who pays the 
necessary attention to this part of their business will agree 
that at no time, or very rarely indeed, is it needful to have the 
furnace more than a third full of fierce fire, and even much 
less is often quite sufficient. If not, there must be a want or 
failing in the arrangement of the pipes, and the sooner such 
be rectified the better. Happily there are few employers who 
cannot see the reason of such requests if it be rightly pointed 
out, and to do this requires a fair amount of knowledge, or 
perhaps the complainant will exhibit a weaker point than the 
deficiency under consideration. 
Nothing can be more in opposition to economy or the 
health of those who have so many years of duty than to be 
continually battling with the furnace half, and sometimes 
three parts, full of fire, of which quite one-half is only ashes 
or lumps of clinker broken in pieces. Experience has taught 
that the less the poker is used the better, provided there is a 
really good coal rake, and if this be used properly to a medium¬ 
sized bright fire there will be fewer dusty hats and asthma¬ 
like coughs on leaving the fires. Simply use the poker to 
raise or remove the clinker into the ashpit, keeping the latter 
door closed during the raking. The hot clinkers put in the 
ashpit until cool will give no offensive smell, the fumes pass¬ 
ing again into the furnace. 
No. 231.—VoL. IX., Third Skrieb. 
In the case of a large terminal saddle put in here nearly 
two years ago all this nuisance is obviated by having the ash¬ 
pit made water-tight with cement; the floor sloping to 
a depth of 12 inches at the back, and having a supply tap 
with piece of hose attached. This trough is kept full, and by 
this means we have an improved draught. I may add that 
this idea is not entirely original, but partly adopted from a 
gas-making and manufacturing furnace, from close observa¬ 
tion of which I have gained and strengthened a few ideas, 
especially with regard to the coal-rake more generally sup¬ 
planting the poker. It will at once be seen that with the 
water beneath the annoyance of dust is almost entirely pre¬ 
vented, as by closing the bottom doors every particle is 
extinguished as it falls when plying the rake. This is the 
only time we consider it necessary to fully draw the damper 
out, while to secure a uniform night draught we have a pin 
rivetted through, allowing exactly 1 inch of space, and very 
little more is required at any time, always contriving to have 
something like 6 inches of clear bar space adjoining the back 
dead plate to increase the current and aid in consuming any 
smoke which must pass over. If coal be used we would 
advise still greater clear fire surface at the back, and that 
the clinkers be put underneath until slacked and removed 
at once, also that the ashes be drawn out with the rake 
and put on one side. 
Thorough cleanings according to general rule may be 
done three times each day. At the first attention in the 
morning, or when the fires are somewhat low, it is advisable 
to carefully put the fuel together, and with a little fresh 
added to encourage it to form a body before it is done, as in 
many cases the operation will entirely kill what was there. 
The next cleaning may take place any time from three to 
four o’clock, according to circumstances, aud again at eight. 
Too much importance cannot be attached to the condition of 
the fires at this hour, nor should those on duty be allowed any 
discretion as to whether half an hour later will not be equally 
well. In order to show how much more cleanly this water 
system is, I may say our stokehole, very much confined, was 
well whitewashed more than a year ago, and at the present 
time appears quite fresh. 
It may be mentioned that the boiler is not set up in the 
ordinary way with side flues. After the smoke has passed 
along the flue through the top of the boiler it is made to pass 
directly over the same part on the top, escaping into the 
chimney before reaching the flow pipe. The sides of the 
boiler are built solid, which we consider more economical, 
having less space for cold air around, judging by the greater 
length of time the water remains hot in the boiler after tbe 
fire is entirely drawn out. Again, we consider the much 
superior draught with an almost closed damper effects a great 
saving, nor are the ashpit doors opened very wide. 
The question of which boiler is best it is almost impossible 
to discuss. As I have before said, there is hardly a boiler that 
would not answer with good management, and with the 
terminal end saddle I am quite satisfied.— Lathyrus. 
NOTES ON ROSES. 
I FEAR I am rather late in thanking Mr. Mawley for his 
interesting and useful tables of the Roses most frequently 
exhibited. I rather regret that he did not at the same time 
make a note of every Rose mentioned as having won a prize 
as an individual, as best H.P. or Tea, or best Rose. If he 
had given an extra mark for each occasion of such a distinc¬ 
tion, I think it would have added to our knowledge of the 
value of each Rose, and I fancy such an addition might have 
made both La France and Souvenir d’un Ami shake on their 
thrones. We seldom, however, see Marechal Niel figuring as 
“ the best Tea,” because the finest blooms from walls are 
over before exhibition time. 
I must thank, too, “A Northerner” for his useful and 
practical, if not novel, advice. But stay:—“ Tea varieties 
need no more protection than H.P.’s. Teas are as hardy, 
No. 1887.— VoL. LXXI., Old Series. 
