THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN’S COMPANION —June 24,1856, 
220 
HEATING PA r THE AID OF GAS. 
On the 18th of April last I erected a little low-roofed 
Cucumbev-lxouse, fourteen feet long and eight feet wide, 
with rather a flat rake, and facing the south, and as I had 
for some three years paid much attention to every kind of 
heating by gas, I had the gas-piping taken down my garden- 
walk, and attached to a little cast-iron, square, galvanised 
gas boiler, situated close in one of the front corners of this 
house, underneath the stage. At the bottom of this water- 
boiler I placed four No. 2 fish-tail or union gas jets, and to 
take away the effluvia, I ran a two-and-a-half inch flue-pipe 
direct up through the centre of the water, formed a square 
elbow just above its exit, and from that elbow I ran a con¬ 
tinuation of this effluvia-pipe or chimney clean round my 
little house, soldering up the joints, and having it of gal¬ 
vanised iron also ; and I so arranged it that a most rapid 
draft or “ suck up” of the heat and carbonic acid took place 
through it from the gas, and I covered it, both for appearance 
and to increase my radiating power, with half-round com¬ 
mon rough Liles, which I found, when heated, to retain that 
heat well. Having satisfied myself that the whole of the re¬ 
siduum of combustion was carried off by this pipe, and that, 
in so doing, I had the satisfaction of not wasting mg heat, 
the extreme end of the pipe being but milk warm when 
it was allowed to go out, I then had flow and return 
hot-water pipes, three inches diameter of wrought iron, 
screwed into that part of my boiler where the water was 
situated ; and these two pipes, which I had on a good level, 
I again ran round my house and back again, about a foot 
from the floor, and directly under the stage against the 
front wall. Finding the elbow immediately over the gas 
was very hot, and fearing it might be of too parching a heat 
to suit Cucumbers or tropical plants, I covered the elbow 
with water, constructing a little trough along the pipe, the I 
water in which I supplied by a little cistern (to be filled 
twice a week), and by a stop cock, producing a constant 
drip, which kept up an equal supply in proportion as the 
heat wasted the water by evaporation. To supply my boiler 
and water-pipes, I also affixed a little galvanised cistern, 
holding about four quarts, and supplying the bottom pipe 
near the boiler, and this I found required replenishing but 
twice a week also; and having provided a copious supply of 
soft water inside the house from my roof, I started my gas, 
raised plants from twelve descriptions of Cucumber seed, 
arranged twenty plants in No. Li pots, and with nothing but 
pure loam in them, at the date 1 now write (exactly two 
months), from the beautifully soft, equal, and salubrious 
atmosphere this gas apparatus has maintained, night and , 
day, ever since it was started, I have 450 Cucumbers 
hanging from the roof; and I have already, during the last 
three weeks, cut several Victories of England, Roman Em¬ 
perors, and others, from eighteen to twenty-four inches long, 
perfectly straight, of most delicate and delicious flavour, 
without the appearance of seed, and this at a cost of gas, 
thus far, at the rate of 30s. for three months, during very 
cold, sunless weather; for I should remark, that when once 
my heat is completely raised, a small amount of gas 
sustains it, whilst in the day-time it is frequently extin¬ 
guished “ in toto,” more particularly if the sun shines. In 
fact, I have found my gas boiler and pipes literally self¬ 
acting. My plants are pictures of vigour, whilst, setting 
the original cost and its ultimate working against the older 
mode of heating houses, myself and many who are well able 
to judge are quite of opinion that “gas" has been most 
effectually and triumphantly applied to horticultural pur¬ 
poses, in face of old standard prejudice, and a belief in 
its total impossibility on the part of some prejudiced dis¬ 
believers. In one hour I can raise the temperature 150° 
Fahrenheit, and I have neither smoke, smell, dust, trouble, 
ashes, nor failures. 
I have been an amateur florist for some few years, and, 
like many others of this class, have often felt the nervous 
dread of an approaching failure of some darling project or 
experiment from the old fire-flues and hot-water by coal 
fires, which, although in both cases well constructed, are 
still liable to many accidents, only prevented by the most 
vigilant and anxious watchfulness through winter or summer, 
and that watchfulness necessary, too, from some one always 
on the premises. But in my little gas affair, I have provided 
for all accidents, and so certain as we have gas in our house, 
or gas in our street lamps, so sure am I also my house is at 
work, and my plants enjoying that most valuable of all 
things in horticulture, viz., a pure, healthy, and unchange¬ 
able atmosphere. The perfect control I possess over it 
enables me to push on my Cucumbers at great speed; in 
fact, they shoot out in a night almost like Mushrooms. I j 
am independent, as far as it is possible, of the weather; and ! 
my crop promises to be fruitful, fine, and valuable in every j 
sense. It certainly beats hotbed culture, whether as respects , 
rapidity of growth or flavour; nor do I think, upon the j 
whole, it is half so troublesome, for it is well known a con- ' 
tinned supply of hot manure is necessary for early forcing I 
in our usually cold spring months. 
As I know many of your amateur readers are interested 
in these things, and as I further find that there is an j 
inquiry constantly for the application of gas to all sorts of 
greenhouses, vineries, forcing-houses, hotbeds, and conser¬ 
vatories, any one similarly situated to myself, who is fond ( 
of employing his leisure hours in his garden, may cheer- j 
fully be allowed to inspect it, when the truth of my assertion , 
will be guaranteed by the plants themselves. 
I noticed your correspondent, “ R. P.,” in your number 
of April 22nd, 1856, advises your previous correspondent, j 
“ IV. IV.,” not to adopt gas. I can easily believe, in a badly- 
constructed apparatus, it would be better avoided; but if 
| “ R. P.” saw this invention, I am sure he would alter hi3 
| opinion.— Alfred Kimberley, Edgbasion. 
CLIFTON HORTICULTURAL MEETING. 
We are much interested in the successful working of 
provincial Horticultural Exhibitions, believing that, if 
managed upon sound and liberal principles, they are pro¬ 
ductive of very great good in the advancement of practical 
horticulture, and are, therefore, grieved when it comes to 
our knowledge that any Society which has once promised 
well, should, from any of the causes which contribute to 
such results, decline or expire. Not less are we gratified 
to observe other Societies meeting with the success they 
merit, and we freely contribute our meed of commendation 
to encourage them in their prosperous course. 
The Clifton Zoological Society have fine gardens, and a 
good collection of plants and animals, and being in a pros¬ 
perous condition, as regards funds, having paid off' their 
debts, seem determined to spare no means of increasing the 
attractiveness of their establishment, and have last year and 
this issued very liberal prize-lists, secured judges of known 
experience and impartiality, and in every way encouraged 
competition on fair terms. 
Their first show for the season took place on Thursday, the 
: 5th instant, when nearly £200 were distributed in prizes. 
To the flowers was added, as an additional attraction, the 
Royal Artillery Band, and the whole being crowned by fine 
1 and agreeable weather, the number of visitors during the ] 
afternoon was between 8,000 and 9,000; but from the ex¬ 
cellence of the general arrangements, in distributing the j 
display over five large tents, besides devoting a reptile- 
house to the Ferns and Orchids, and by admitting the com¬ 
pany in three classes, at 4s., 2s. 0d., and Is., comfort and 
enjoyment were insured to all. 
Perhaps the most imposing exhibition was the Azaleas, 
of which there were three sixes, and several single spe- I 
cimens. The first collection (prize .65), from Thomas 
Canning, Esq., consisted of very fine plants, from three- 
and-a-lialf feet to six feet in height, by two-and-a-half feet 
to three-and-a-balf feet in diameter, well grown, but not 
over trained specimens, covered with blossoms. In this col¬ 
lection, Optima, six feet by three-and-a-half feet; Gled- 
stanesii, six-and-a half feet by two-and-a-half feet; and 
Prince Albert, six feet by three feet, would have stood well 
on any exhibition-table. Mr. Canning also had a single 
specimen, for which an extra prize was given—a handsome 
pyramid, four feet high, the lower half of which was of 
Variegata, and the upper of Lateritia. 
The next most interesting features were the Roses, iu 
pols and cut blossoms. Of the former were several nice 
half-dozens. The first prize (.£2) was awarded to Mr. R. 
Nooull, gardener to J. IViltshire, Esq., Stokewick. 
