382 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, March 23, 
1858. 
these remarks apply only to the marine tank ; the river tank 
needs no such disturbance, and in no case aeration; nor does 
either a marine or fresh water vessel, properly managed, ever 
require a change ot water, S. H. 
HEATING BY HOOD’S BOILER. 
A LONG time ago I promised to give you some details as to 
the working of one of Hood’s boilers, which requires no brick 
setting, although, in consequence of mine being in an open 
shed, I have bricked it round, to save the loss of so much 
heat. 
I can fancy I hear you exclaim, the man must be either 
mad or a fool, to keep such a heat in a hotbed for only 
striking cuttings in. I have learnt wisdom, and now never 
have it above 70°, and, usually, about 65°. The shutters 
that are stated as on sometimes, are half-inch boards, that 
cover the glass roof, and were got, originally, to protect it 
from snow slips from the roof of the house. Since this house 
was adopted, I have materially altered the arrangement of pipes, 
&c., for I found, one day, that the galvanised iron of the hot¬ 
bed-tank was perfectly rotten, and I have been since told it 
will not stand heat, so now I have continued the wall A across 
the house as dotted, and got an iron tank three feet, by seven 
inches, by seven inches, but worked with four inches of water; 
then the expansion boxes at the end of the four-inch pipes are 
done away with ; the pipes brought to the front of the slates 
b, and are over each other. The bottom part of the wall a, is 
set back a little, the top part being carried on an iron bar, so 
as to form a little chamber, in which three-inch pipes run 
from the elbows and through the wall I); then inch pipes to 
the boiler, by which arrangement I think I get more top heat 
witli less fire, but it has been so very windy ever since it was 
altered, that I have not had a fair chance of trying it.— 
W. O. D. 
THE FLUKE AND THE ALSTON KIDNEl r 
POTATOES. 
Observing some remarks on the Fluke Potato, in The 
Cottage Gardener, I beg to say a few words on the little 
experience I have had. In 1854 Mr. Baslierville, a nursery¬ 
man, at Bristol, recommended me to try them (his Ashleaf 
Kidneys having been all sold) ; I did so; and the Flukes were 
planted among three other sorts, which were terribly attacked 
by “ the disease.” The Flukes escaped entirely , but the 
haulms were very short and small, contrary to your corre¬ 
spondent’s description of his; the crop on my small lot was 
immense, so that the soil (an old garden) must have suited 
them. I recommended them to one gentleman here, who 
raises all his own Potatoes ; and he is much pleased, and cul¬ 
tivates them every year. Another gentleman, in Worcester¬ 
shire, planted a great breadth of them, two years ago, upon 
newly-broken-up soil, but they did not suceeed so well. 
There is an excellent Cheltenham Potato, called the Alston 
Kidney, which I strongly recommend to Potato growers, who 
have not got them ; they are cultivated to an immense extent 
in this neighbourhood, they bear exceedingly well, and are 
the best in this vicinity; they keep well, and last (like the 
Fluke) for eight or ten months in excellent order. An order 
sent to Messrs. Jessop, nurserymen, I am sure would be 
attended to. A change of soil is very desirable, at all times, 
to Potatoes : and, I firmly believe, the neglect of this is one 
of the great causes of disease and sterility.—II. W. Newman, 
Cheltenham . 
PLANTING FOR SHELTER ON THE 
NORTH COAST. 
In Tiie Cottage Gardener (No. 493) you ask for informa¬ 
tion as to what are the most suitable trees to plant, in an exposed 
situation, on the sea-coast. Here w r e are only a short distance 
from the sea, and subject to most terrific gales, especially at the 
equinox, sweeping all before them. I find, from close in¬ 
spection from time to time, that nothing stands so well as the 
Sycamore for an outside protection; its strong lateral branches 
! enable it to withstand the roughest gales, without swerving to 
any side. Along with this is the Poplar, which stands well, 
and makes good protection. Horse Chestnuts and Willow 
fill up, and endure the breezes without becoming one-sided. 
Along with these is the common Elm. All these make good 
protection here. Lime, Beech, Ash, Oak, all become one¬ 
sided and unsightly, excepting those well sheltered behind 
other trees. None of the Pine tribe grow well here. A single 
Cedrus deodar a is all we have on the place, and this annually 
loses its leader, resembling a Gorse bush more than anything 
else. I think your correspondent will find no shrubs do so 
well as the Rhododendron and Aucuba , with the Laurestinus ; 
the latter luxuriates here. None of the Laurels do well, ex¬ 
cepting the Ray; which, when planted in rather sheltered 
spots, grows admirably. Evergreen Oaks, and such like, 
become quite blanched under the influence of the sea-breezes, 
loaded, as they are, with saline matter.— J. Eddington, 
Seacombe , Cheshire. 
I here hand a few remarks on trees suitable for “ Shelter on 
the North Coast.” Perhaps the common Sea Buckthorn is one 
of the best: it grows close to the sea in some parts of Scotland, 
exposed to the north-east winds from the German Ocean. 
