Propagating Boxes, Heating Cases and Cold Frames. 
There are alwaj's some plants that are very difKcult to start without some 
bottom lieat, and all amateur gardeners cannot possess a hot bed. But the heaied 
case affords to them the greatest facilities for striking cuttings, raising seeds, and 
bringing well established plants into rapid growth. 
A lionie made case may be made in the form of a double cube, say twelve 
inches wide and high, and eighteen inches long. A concealed tank of zinc tilled 
with hot water, will give out and retain the heat from twelve to twenty -four 
hours without clianging the water. No lamp or extra heat need be used, and 
tlie cases are perfectly clean and unobjectionable, while they can be with a little 
mechanical skill, rendered very ornamental and agreeable objects for any parlor 
or sitting room. 
It is best, that the entire frame work be made of wood, and the sides and top 
consist each of a pane of glass fitted into the frame ; or in other words, it is a smaM 
glass sltow case with open bottoms. One of the sides may be arranged so as 
to slide out to give greater ease in arranging the plant within and for cleaning 
the glass. The top may be movable, fastened by hinges, and lifted up one or two 
inches occasionally for ventilation. When the plants are in bloom, the entire side 
or top can be left open all day. 
The wood work may be either painted or be constructed simply of black wal- 
nut, oak, and oiled; either will look well. 
In some of our horticultural stores there are cases already constructed for prop- 
ligating purposes which till the exact need. 
Figs. 17 and IS are manufactured of galvanized iron, one being about three feet 
Fig. 17. 
iOngand '.wo wide, thri other one foot by eighteen inches 
A shallow boiler about 
