812 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER . 
[ October 7. 1886. 
The overhauling that is advocated must extend to the 
dower and kitchen garden. The cropping of flower beds and 
borders for another year should be determined before the 
occupants of the current season fade, and provision be made 
accordingly for meeting the demand. In the absence of a 
system of the nature indicated space is occupied in winter 
with plants that are of little use in spring, while those that 
are wanted are not to be found, having been needlessly and 
thoughtlessly crowded out. It is the same in the vegetable 
supply. Unless careful note is made of the position, and the 
season’s wants accurately balanced against existing and pro¬ 
spective crops, an alternate glut and famine are apt to result, 
instead of a steady unbroken supply of seasonable produce. 
A very thorough overhauling of plants in pots is also im¬ 
peratively needed at this season of the year. It is surprising 
to see so much space in many glass structures occupied with 
worthless plants. Miserable, disease-stricken, and insect- 
infested “ specimens ” are huddled together on the more-the- 
merrier system, as if there were more virtue in numbers than 
anything else. A well-considered yet courageous clearing- 
out plan is sadly needed in many gardens where there is 
“room for nothing,” and space might then be gained for 
something that would be a credit to the cultivator and the 
garden.— Experientia eocet. 
THE NON-VENTILATING SYSTEM. 
Having given the system of growing Cucumbers and various 
other plants without air a good trial, I was naturally interested in the 
remarks of “A Cucumber Grower for Seed” (page 273) on this 
subject. To tell the truth I was not surprised to learn that he secured 
fully one-third less seed from a given number of fruits than he hid 
hitherto done when the Cucumbers were grown on the old system. 
When a house is kept constantly close, and in addition much moisture 
is distributed, the atmosphere is almost certain to be unfavourable 
to a good set on any shy-seeding varieties of fruit, and the Telegraph 
Cucumber is proverbially a shy seeder even under most favourable 
circumstances. Melons will sometimes set a few fruit in a house 
kept constantly close and very hot. We had some in pots this season 
that set in the Cucumber house ; but as a rule a dry atmosphere, 
especially in the morning, and which is obtained by judicious venti¬ 
lation, is necessary to insure the setting of the requisite number of 
fruits. The greater portion of Cucumbers annually cut would, if left 
to ripen, yield no perfect seeds, and unless seeds are wanted no one 
takes the trouble to fertilise the blooms. Further, under the “ express 
system ” I believe it is possible to obtain a much greater number of 
Cucumbers at one time than by the old system—more, in fact, than 
the plants are capable of perfecting ; and by perfecting I mean in 
the sense that each fruit contains an average number of perfect seeds. 
It is the work of forming the seeds that usually proves so weakening 
to the plants, and we all know that Melon plants must be strong and 
well rooted before they will swell off a good crop of fruit. Cucum¬ 
bers being of a similar nature, it follows they too must be somewhat 
similarly treated. 
As far as my experience goes, I am of opinion that the non-ven¬ 
tilating system of Cucumber culture will never become popular with 
gardeners other than those who grow solely for the markets, but it 
may with advantage be applied to the culture of various plants I shall 
name. With us it answered remarkably well with Cucumbers up to 
the end of June, and at that time I was sanguine it was the right 
thing, and said as much to others who had their doubts ; but subse¬ 
quently I found we were not so clever as we had thought, for we 
broke down in July. All the while the blinds are on and the Cucum¬ 
bers are kept constantly moist over the foliage and at the roots ; the 
house being also so highly charged with moisture, the hottest sun does 
not injure the foliage, and in a steaming hot temperature the fruit 
grow at a wonderful pace ; but let the man in charge neglect thehouse 
five minutes too long, and it must be a heavy shading indeed that 
prevents burning, red spider, and other evils, for red spider will thrive, 
once established, in spite of a saturated atmosphere. Gardeners with 
their multifarious duties cannot be constantly watching, a Cucumber 
house ; at any rate, there is no time for it here, and therefore I main¬ 
tain that the express system is unsuited for private places. I am 
aware that Cucumbers are thus grown by the thousand at Prescot, 
and one of our Liverpool party who paid a visit to the most noted 
grower informed me that Tomatoes were also similarly grown, and 
were to be seen in wonderful perfeclion in common with the 
Cucumbers. Perhaps Mr. Bardney, who, I believe, first directed 
attention to this new system in the pages of the Journal of Horticul¬ 
ture, will further enlighten us, and also give his opinion as to the 
advisability of trying the plan for set d--saving. 
Although disappointed with the non-ventilating system for 
Cucumber culture, the reverse is the case with our experiments on 
similar lines with a mixed stove of plants. During the whole of the 
spring and summer of the years 1885 and 1886 this house was kept 
constantly clobe and “ fearfully hot,” as it was frequently found by 
numerous visitors. The result was in every respect most surprising and 
satisfactory. A large plant of Allamanda Hendersoni on the roof 
bloomed most profusely from May nearly up to Christmas, and even 
later many blooms were cut, and it has done just as well this season. 
We commenced cutting trusses of Stephanotis blooms last Easter, and 
we have not been without blooms up to the present time, large quan¬ 
tities be at all times open simultaneously. Dipladenias thrive equally 
as well under the same treatment, and in each case no fault could be 
found with the size and substance of the blooms, nor with their dura¬ 
tion. Underneath these we had Crotons, Dracaenas, Pandanuses, 
Pancratiums, Eucharises, and Calanthes. The latter grown on back 
shelves near the glass are as strong and healthy as can well be, and 
flower beautifully. Eucharises have improved surprisingly' since we 
have adopted the new system, the leaves being larger, of greater sub¬ 
stance, and very green, and we get three good crops of bloom in the 
year, besides flowers at odd times. They evidently delight in plenty 
of heat and moisture, with a moderate amount of shade. Crotons are 
especially happy under this treatment, and were I called upon to 
grow a number of plants quickly to a good size, they would get no 
air. It should be added we are particularly careful to keep the 
canvas blinds drawn over the roof all the time the sun has much 
power, and the plants are, on clear days especially, very frequently 
syringed, the walls, staging, and floors being also well moistened at 
each time. If these precautions are neglected failure must soon 
result, as when the temperatuie stands at 100°, or even more, the 
evaporation is very rapid, and unless plenty of moisture abounds burn¬ 
ing soon follows. At the present lime the blinds are not used, and 
we give a little air, nothing being gained, on the contrary harm may 
be done, by stimulating growth at this time of year; and a little fresh 
air circulating prevents the spotting of delicate blooms, this not 
happening when there is more light and heat. It is a curious fact 
that Cinerarias, Primulas, and Cyclamens grow sturdily enough in 
cold frames with little or no air given them provided they receive 
a fair amount of room.—W. Iggulden. 
HEATING BY HOT WATER. 
[Read before the Members of the Preston and Falwood Floral and Horticultural 
Society, August 7th.] 
( Continued f rom page 293.) 
The Derbyshire Boiler. —This is a modified form of the 
“ Loughborough ” boiler that was sent out by Messrs. Messenger 
and Co. for beating small greenhouses. The “Derbyshire” is re¬ 
presented by fig. 47, and the “ Chesterfield,” which is but slightly 
different, by fig. 48. These blocks have been kindly lent by 
Messrs. R. Hal iday & Co. for illustrating boilers suitable for small 
Fig. 47. Fig. 48. 
greenhouses. The “ Derbyshire” has been selected because Messrs. 
R. Halliday & Co. were awarded the silver medal for it at the 
Royal Horticultural Society's Show in Wavertree Park, Liverpool 
The price of the boiler, which is an important matter for this 
class of cultivators, together with its adaptability for the purpose, 
were the main grounds for the selection of this boiler for the 
post of honour. The “Chesterfield” is illustrated to show the 
method of arranging the pipes with the expansion box attached. 
These can be fitted to the “Derbyshire” in the same way. This 
is a safe arrangement for amateurs; the supply tank is dispensed 
with. The expansion box, which reduces the risk of the pipes 
or boiler failing, is the supply cistern as well. In large arrange¬ 
ments this method cannot well be practised, but for one or two 
small houses no safer or more reliable principle could be followed. 
The “ Loughborough,” the “ Halifax,” the “ Liverpool," and 
