MAY. 
151 
behind us, simply because it is only practised on a limited scale ; but, 
even with this, they are making rapid progress with Pine and Grape 
culture, and the interest with which they foster and encourage hardy 
fruits is quite characteristic of the national ardour and enterprise. 
MR. CRAIGIE’S GAS HEATING APPARATUS. 
Why is it that horticultural erections on a small scale do not more 
abound as appendages to Suburban Villas ? The love of flowers surely 
is general enough to make such more numerous. In these days of 
cheap glass, indeed, of cheap e'oerythh'hg^ connected with such structures, 
it cannot be that the expenditure of the few pounds additional which 
they would cost is the obstacle. A very neat little span roof green¬ 
house can be erected in the present day for under 20/. A simple 
addition to a dwelling, and one which would protect a sufficient number 
of plants to enliven with flowers the dreary months of winter might be 
put up much below this. 
Being a great lover of flowers myself, I cultivate them to a con¬ 
siderable extent; but often when trying to persuade some of my friends 
to follow my example, and to nurse plants of their own such as they 
have admired in my greenhouse, the answer has been, “It is all very 
well for you. Though you may manage your plants yourself chiefly 
through the day, yet you keep a gardener who will see to their security 
from frosts at night, but what could I do ? Strong as my love of the 
pursuit might become, I do not think it would ever prove sufficiently 
powerful to induce me to descend into the stoke-hole and make up my 
fire as regularly every evening as would be required.” This has been 
an objection to which a convincing reply has always been difficult. 
Whether you proposed flues or hot-water pipes still there remained the 
unpalatable stoke-hole, and my friend has continued to admire the 
flowers which he has seen in the possession of others, but to do no 
more. 
It would seem that if the difficulties attending the preservation of the 
occupants of small greenhouses from frost could be done away with, 
such structures would multiply considerably. 
At the recent exhibition most of us were much struck with the 
simplicity and apparent effectiveness of this apparatus, as displayed in 
the working model; and I am quite convinced that in situations in 
which gas is available, through Mr. Craigie’s application of it, a power 
is at command which will enable the amateur to boil, and to keep up to 
a sufficient heat, such an amount of water as will, with a well regulated 
apparatus, make all safe in a small greenhouse during any ordinary 
frost. If not mistaken in this estimate of its power, what a great boon 
this will be to possessors of small plant-houses. The gas to be supplied 
to the boiler is so easily under control, and unless there be a lodgment 
of water in the pipe, and the frost is allowed to get at it, or the gas¬ 
ometer plays a trick, the plants may at any time be left with confidence, 
and the owner may be satisfied that the frost will do no harm. 
