154 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN'S COMPANION.- 
-May 27, 1850. 
DODEOATHEON INTEGRIFOLIUM. 
Raised from Californian seed sent 
home by Hartweg. 
A dwarf stemless plant, with a few 
long, narrow, almost spatlnilate, un¬ 
divided leaves, and a slender scape, 
bearing a single nodding flower, very 
like that of the common species, and 
of the same purple colour, with a yellow 
eye and dark purple anthers. 
Such was the plant from which the 
annexed drawing was made. Upon 
looking, however, to the wild specimens, 
we find that it becomes much more 
vigorous when older, bearing as many 
as three flowers on a scape, or, accord¬ 
ing to Sir IVm. Hooker, eleven or 
twelve; in which case it becomes as 
interesting as the old and well-known 
species, so common in gardens. A 
damp, rich, shaded American border 
suits it best; and there it may be ex¬ 
pected to grow without difficulty.— 
Horticultural Society's Journal. 
SOME REMARKS ON HEAT¬ 
ING. By Robert Glendinning’, 
F.H.S., Chiswick Nursery, Turn- 
ham Green. 
It appears to me that no system 
of warming horticultural buildings 
hitherto devised has been found so 
effectual as hot water applied by a pro¬ 
perly contrived apparatus. Even al¬ 
though so many are interested in the 
subject, during the last twenty-five 
years little advance has been made in 
the methods of heating. If the law which governs the 
circulation of water in pipes, then and now in use, was not so 
clearly understood, it was at least as efficiently applied. It is 
true that a vast number of contrivances has been submitted 
to the public, all more or less setting physical science at 
defiance, and therefore proving either inefficient in power, 
or total failures. The object aimed at in these contrivances 
has apparently been to involve the simplicity of ordinary 
hot water systems by complex mechanical appliances ; so 
far indeed has this thirst for complexity been carried, that 
the expense attending the setting up of these unpliiloso- 
pliieal inventions has in many cases been doubled. Now, 
in the warming of the great portion of horticultural builcl- 
ings, the most simple form of apparatus can be readily 
applied, and almost always to more advantage, and at a 
considerably reduced outlay. Every deviation from this, 
whether from caprice or necessity, either decreases the 
healing power, or increases the price. 
I lie variety ol boilers which from time to time have been 
submitted to the public, is almost beyond enumeration, each 
of course purporting to be better than its predecessors. In 
the contriving of these a great point appears always to have 
been to hit upon some new shape, the more out-of-the-way 
the better; but as the public gets bitten, or better versed in 
the matter, so these contorted kettles vanish in an equal 
ratio; their construction boing as unphilosophieal as the 
whimsicality of theirform, necessarily involves an important 
item in their manufacture, because the more complicated 
and intricate the boiler, the more likely it is to get out of 
order; such contrivances being by no means calculated to 
stand the wear and tear of boilers simply designed. It is 
astonishing, notwithstanding the opinions adduced by 
persons competent to give a clear exposition of the laws of 
physics bearing upon this subject, how much the public 
has been charmed and cheated by novelty, and overlooking 
its own interest, has greedily swallowed project after project 
in perfect disregard of such warnings, and in opposition to 
the welfare of plants, which, at all times where artificial heat 
is required, are placed in danger of being much injured if 
not destroyed by any derangement in the heating power. 
Instead, therefore, of attending to the intricate schemes of 
the day, let us examine that form of boiler which has stood 
the test of time satisfactorily, and that mode of applying 
pipes to convey water round the building, which experience 
of long standing has declared to be the best. 
One of earliest boilers in use was of the arch form, and 
it would have been wise had we endeavoured to improve it— 
if indeed it is capable of improvement. The arched boiler 
is at once simple in shape, of efficient power, and easy ap¬ 
plication. No boiler hitherto contrived so perfectly combines 
these important points, for while it is possible to get up a 
boiler with more heating surface, there has invariably arisen 
some corresponding disadvantage. 
But there is an important matter regarding the efficient 
action of a boiler, independent of its shape. Badly designed 
boilers when well set often answer beyond expectation, and 
even to the astonishment of the contriver, whereas boilers 
constructed upon the best principles, when improperly set, 
have failed. In the latter case, the heat is not advantageously 
applied. For instructions in setting the arch boiler in the 
most efficient manner, I am indebted to its inventor,* who 
has given me permission to publish them. 
Mr. Hood’s method of setting' the arch boiler cannot fail 
to answer when properly carried out, as I have amply- 
proved. It appears to me, however, that for large houses a 
greater increase of the piers of the arch would be an im¬ 
provement, as thereby affording more room for fuel. Beyond 
this, as far as my own experience goes, it seems to be the 
best source of warming yet devised, combining, as it un¬ 
questionably does, both efficiency and economy. 
* Charles Hood, Esq., F.R.A.S., author of “ A Tracheal Treatise on 
Warming Buildings by Hot Water, and an Inquiry into the Laws of 
Itadiant and Conducted Heat.” 
