August 2, 1888. J 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
107 
gilding, pictures, furniture, and drapery, and so injurious to animal and 
vegetable life. Plants and flowers are said not only to exist, but to 
thrive in rooms where water gas is used as an illuminant. Moreover, 
the heat generated by water gas when employed for this purpose is set 
down at less than half of that given off by coal gas, and the entire 
absence of the heavy hydro-carbons in the latter precludes any possibility 
of smoky, ceilings, as no free carbon caa escape unconsumed from the 
water gas. The colour of the light stands midway between the electric 
arc light and the soft electric incandescent lamp. From the purple 
rays of the former and the yellow tint of the latter it is entirely free, 
and it more resembles the natural sunlight than any artificial illuminant 
yet produced. 
The apparatus used for generating water gas is exceedingly simple, 
and entirely automatic in its action ; indeed, any mistake on the part 
or the gas maker is impossible. Since the plant has been devised no 
case of accident by explosion has been heard of. As to its safety for 
domestic purposes, although the water gas usually made possesses no 
smell whatever, involving the possibility of an escape remaining un¬ 
detected in the household, yet by an ingenious contrivance introduced 
by Mr. Wildy, a strong smell is imparted to it as there manufactured. 
This does not affect its illuminating power, but unmistakeably proclaims 
its presence. A four months’ experience at the Leeds Forge Las shown 
the adaptability of water gas to the various uses mentioned. 
Coming to the details of its manufacture, it may be stated that the 
apparatus used in its making consists principally of a generator, in which 
fuel, by means of a blast, is raised to a high temperature. Preferably 
the fuel should be of considerable depth. The blast having been turned 
off, steam is injected into the column of fuel, and the steam becomes de¬ 
composed, producing hydrogen and carbonic acid. This latter gas, in 
passing through the lower strata of incandescent fuel, is converted into 
carbonic oxide, which passes away with the hydrogen through the 
scrubber into the gasholder. The mechanical appliances by which the 
air and steam are alternately admitted, and the generator gas and water 
gas alternately led away, are cleverly conceived. One valve serves the 
double purpose of admitting the air and educing the gas. This valve 
slides on a three-ported face, connected with a chamber which is water- 
cooled. The valve itself is also cooled in a like manner, so that the 
intensely heated effluent water gas passes harmlessly over a common 
cast-iron surface without running any risk of damaging it. In the slide 
valve extra passages are cut in order to allow of the escape of the small 
residuum of air or gas which may be left in the passages or ports, and 
which, if allowed to mix, might cause an explosion. This valve is the 
invention of Herr Blass of Essen. The levers which operate this slide 
valve also move the blast valve, opening it when the slide is set for 
blowing the fuel and closing it when the slide is thrown over to the gas 
eduction port, and at the same time opening or closing the steam valve 
according to the position of the slide valve for gas-making or for blow¬ 
ing. The outlet for the generator gas is opened and closed by the same 
mechanical means, so that one lever, being thrown over, reverses the 
whole series of valves, and nothing is left to the possible absent-minded¬ 
ness of the attendant gas maker. By this arrangement the risk of 
accident is completely obviated. The lower part of the generator, which 
is subjected to a very high temperature, consists of a single steel plate, 
flanged so as to form a cup. The ring made by this cup is continually 
full of water, this device preventing any destruction owing to the in¬ 
tensely great heat. It will thus be seen that the gas is produced 
intermittently. The rate of production is about 1000 feet per minute, 
at intervals of ten minutes. Each generator in use at the Leeds Forge 
is capable of turning out about 17,000 cubic feet of water gas per hour, 
with the consumption of about half a ton of the commonest and cheapest 
fuel. At the Leeds Gasworks a ton of coal produces 10,000 cubic feet of 
coal gas. The coke remaining after the extraction of the gas from the 
coal weighs some 13 cwt. or 11 cwt,, and this coke will produce 23,000 
cubic feet of water gas and 98,000 cubic feet of generator gas. In the 
manufacture of water gas at Leeds Forge canal water is used. 
WORK foiithe WEEK.. O 
ofS 
FRUIT FORGING. 
Peaches and Nectarines. —Late Succession Trees .—Every atten¬ 
tion must be given the trees in syringing to keep the foliage free from 
red spider, and in watering the inside borders. It will be an advantage 
to mulch the inside border with short somewhat lumpy or open material, 
as stable manure freed of the straw, but it must not be used in too great 
quantity at a time in the Lesh state, or the ammonia vapour will 
seriously injure the foliage, particularly if the lights for ventilation are 
kept close, a little ventilation constantly being a safeguard against 
scorching, soft and attenuated growth. The value of using manure 
rather fresh as a mulch is that the ammonia given out is inimical to 
insects and invigorating to the plants, the waterings directly making it 
available for taking up by the roots, and by being lumpy or open 
atmospheric influences have freer access for effecting the assimilation of 
food in the soil than when it is practically sealed by a close soapy mass 
of little manurial value. The shoots must be regularly tied-in, allowing 
space in the ties for the swelling of the shoots. To assist the colouring 
and ripening of the fruits they should be exposed as much as possible to 
the influences of sun and air by removing or shortening some of the 
foliage where too thickly placed. Where the fruit is on the under side 
of the trellis the shoots may be untied and regulated, so as to bring them 
with the apex to the light, supporting them in position by laths placed 
across the trellis. Discontinue the syringing when the fruit begins to 
soften, and lessen the supplies of water, but on no account must water 
be withheld to the prejudice of the health of the trees. A piece of 
hexagon netting placed below the trellis, and so arranged as to form 
pockets to save the fruit from a long run against other, will prevent 
any fruit being bruised should they fall. Both top and bottom or side- 
ventilation will be necessary constantly after the fruit commences- 
ripening. 
Late Houses .—There is more gumming of the growths than we have 
before experienced. The shoots are affected at the base of the current 
year’s growth, and soon collapse. The most remarkable thing about 
them is that of their not being unduly vigorous. It is clearly a case of 
disorganised tissue through the cold in the early stages of growth not 
being favourable to assimilation. Growths so affected should be cut 
clean away below the gummed part and be burned. In autumn as soon 
as the wood, buds, and foliage are sufficiently matured lift the tree® 
carefully, and before the leaves have fallen, preserving the roots that 
proceed from the collar with, if possible, some soil, laying the roots 
nearer the surface and fresh material or the old, adding a sixth of old 
mortar rubbish passed through an inch sieve, carefully removing any 
portions of wood as laths, &c. If the soil be light add a fourth of clayey 
marl in as fine parts as practicable. Make it thoroughly firm. Water if 
necessary ; indeed, the soil ought to be in a condition for proper firming so 
that water will be necessary only to settle the soil about the roots, mulch¬ 
ing with 2 to 3 inches thickness of rather rough and fresh or not very 
decayed manure. The lifting, the addition of calcareous and silicious- 
matter, and the firming will effect a perfect cure. The blossoms will 
set, the fruit stone, and it will be perfected without stone-splitting. 
Continue syringing the trees as often as necessary to check red spider, 
but avoid keeping the foliage constantly dripping with moisture. In¬ 
side borders must be well watered and mulched. Tie-in the shoot® 
regularly and evenly, keeping them rather thin. Stop any gross shoots, 
or preferably cut them clean out, thereby causing a diversion and more 
equalisation of the sap and vigour throughout the tree. When the fruit 
commences swelling after stoning close the house somewhat early in the 
afternoon, let the temperature rise in fact to 85° or 90°, ventilating 
a little before nightfall. Increase the ventilation early, and keep 
through the day from 75° to 85° whenever practicable. The fruit is so- 
late that every possible advantage should be taken of the solar heat 
alike to perfect the current crop and the wood and buds for the 
ensuing season. 
Cheery House.— Let the trees now be as fully exposed to air as 
the house will admit. Remove the roof lights, which is the best means of 
arresting premature growth, to which the Cherry when forced year after 
year successively is liable. The leaves from their hard texture are not 
very inviting to red spider, but black aphides will prey upon them un¬ 
less prevented by syringing or an insecticide. If black aphides appear 
at the points of the shoots syringe with tobacco water. The border 
must not be allowed to become parchingly dry, but have copious sup¬ 
plies of water, and if weakly employ liquid manure, as poverty of bud- 
perfecting means collapse of the fruit after setting if it get beyond tho 
blossoming. Trees in pots must be regularly watered and syringed to- 
maintain the foliage in a healthy state as long as possible. 
Cucumbers. —These have been more crooked and stunted generally 
than we remember for a long time, due no doubt to the cold, wet, dull 
weather. In fine weather fire heat may safely be dispensed with, but in 
such dull and wet weather as we have lately experienced fire heat will 
need to be afforded to maintain a suitable temperature. Strive to- 
preserve a healthy root action by a bottom heat of about 80°, keeping 
the plants well supplied with water but not in excess of the require¬ 
ments, as a sodden soil is fatal to the activity of the roots, using liquid 
manure whenever vigour is required, or it is necessary for its mainten¬ 
ance. Let the plants be regularly examined once a week, removing 
the exhausted growths to make way for young bearing wood. Syringe 
moderately at closing time, doing so as early in the afternoon as 
the brightness of the sun, closing for a couple of hours to run up 
to 90° to 95°, then admit a little air for a short time to allow of the 
rank steam or moisture to escape, having the foliage fairly dry before 
nightfall, especially if fires are dispensed with. The Cucumbers for 
autumn fruiting should now soon be planted on ridges or raised hillocks 
moderately firm, maintaining a moist and genial atmosphere, and they 
will grow away freely and show fruit in plenty shortly. 
Any frames at liberty may yet be planted with Cucumbers upon a 
bed of fermenting materials, which will give a supply of fruit in 
September, and continue up to near Christmas if due regard be had to- 
lining the bed and tt> protecting the plants by mats over the lights at 
night in cold weather. 
Melons. —the weather has been of late anything but favourable, 
especially to late crops in frames, which have neither set nor swelled 
well, it being a remarkable feature that late Melons on dung beds grow 
very luxuriantly, and unless the foliage be kept thin the fruit sets 
very indifferently, and after setting refuses to swell. Some growers 
