82 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
[ February. 
I may observe tliat every boiler should be set with firebricks, not only 
because they do not burn out so fast as common bricks, but because they 
economise fuel. The bottom of the boiler should also be set one or two or 
more courses of bricks above the bars, for the bottom is usually burnt 
through first, if set level with the bars, from the clinkers collecting and 
fixing thereon. Moreover, none of the pipes from the boiler should be 
exposed to the action of the fire, for if so they will probably burn through 
before the boiler is worn out. Once on taking out a boiler, I found the 
draw-off pipe to be a leaden one carried through the flue; the fire took 
no effect on it until it got choked, and then of course it melted away. 
It is a very great mistake to put into a house the smallest quantity of 
pipe supposed to be sufficient to heat a given space to a certain temperature. 
It may answer very well under ordinary circumstances, but probably at 
some particular time when extra heat is required, an extraordinarily cold 
night may occur, and then either the temperature must be too low, or we 
must fire to such an extent as to injure the plants. 
The Cornish boiler is a very useful and easy one to manage, if properly 
fixed. It will consume any kind of fuel; but if not in constant use I con¬ 
sider it corrodes more than some other kinds. I may here remark that any 
hothouse boiler in constant use will last longer than if it were used 
only a portion of the year, for even if the water is run out the rust will 
still act both inside and outside. 
I have yet to be convinced that hollow furnace bars containing water 
have any advantage over loose solid bars; but have proved that by keeping 
the ashpit filled with water the bars will last at least three times as 
long as with the ordinary dry ashpit. To test this, I had the ashpits in 
all the conservatory fireplaces here, built in cement, and kept constantly 
filled with water. This is the third season since it was done, and the 
bars are apparently as good as ever, while previously many had to be 
renewed annually. In new work it is the best plan to have iron pans cast 
to fit the ashpit; and it is also advisable to have a water pipe with tap in or 
near the fireplace, for otherwise the filling of the pan will sometimes be 
forgotten. The water appears to prevent clinkers from forming, owing, 
perhaps to the cooling action of the steam continually rising, so that with 
moderately good stoking, the draught is always good. 
I consider the Saddle hoiler one of the most useful for general purposes, 
and it can be adapted to any set of pipes already fixed. There have been 
many modifications and so-called improvements of this form of boiler, but 
I prefer the original—not that I consider it impossible to improve on the 
type, but alteration often complicates a simple original. The chief point 
in this, as in other boilers, is to expose a large surface to the fire, which 
can be done in the plain saddle, if properly set. 
