790 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
August 14, 1886. 
mowings, half-decayed manure, or leaves, serves a 
double purpose in keeping the soil moist and lessening 
the labour of weeding, &c. ; and the application of 
salt to Asparagus, whatever may be said for or against 
it as to its value as manure, keeps the weeds in check. 
It is still used to a great extent to destroy the weeds 
on garden paths ; but as more effective applications 
become better known, they must eventually supersede 
it, their effect being more lasting. Smith’s "Weed 
Killer, for example, is cheaper in the first instance, and 
where salt will, if the paths have to be kept clean, 
require using four or five times, one dressing of the 
Weed Killer will be enough, as neither moss nor weeds 
will grow for two years where it is put, provided the 
gravel is quite dry at the time and thoroughly soaked 
with it. This, of all labour-saving expedients brought 
out for use in the garden, is the best.—IF. B. G. 
->X<~ 
HEATING BY HOT WATER. 
On Saturday evening, Mr. Wm. Bardney, of The 
Gardens, Morris Green, Liverjiool, read a paper to the 
members of the Preston and Fulwood Horticultural 
Society, on “Heating by Hot-water.” There was a 
good attendance ; the president, E. Garliek, Esq., J.P., 
occupied the chair. In opening the proceedings, he re¬ 
ferred to the importance of the subject, and said it was 
interesting not only to the lords of the land, but to 
many cottagers in the crowded streets of towns, for 
they could now find in many backyards a very pleasant 
sight, namely, a greenhouse. The pursuit followed 
therein, he doubted not, gave an amount of happiness 
to the inhabitants of the closely set streets, which they 
would not otherwise enjoy. 
Mr. Bardney, in an exhaustive paper, spoke of the 
phenomenon water presented by varied temperature, 
and then alluded to its circulation. Proceeding, he 
urged that in the arrangement of a heating apparatus, 
the first thought must be the consideration of the stoke 
hole. It should occupy a convenient position, should be 
easy of access for the reception of fuel, &c., and should 
be so situated that it could be readily drained. He then 
dilated upon the arrangement of mains, stating that it 
must in a great measure be determined by the state of 
the ground ; if it were level the pipes might be on the 
same level throughout; it at the same time being 
understood that the pipes in the house must be at a 
higher level than the mains. Pipes so placed would 
work well. He worked a system that raised 18 ins. or 
more in 150 ft., and then fell for the same distance, or 
nearly so, the extreme distanced pipes being only 3 ins. 
or 4 ins. higher than those leaving the boiler. He did 
not advocate that principle, for on account of the in¬ 
cline and decline a greater quantity of fuel was used 
than if there were a gradual raise throughout. It 
cost twice as much to heat the houses furthest from the 
boiler. The mains ought to be placed in such a 
position that they could be got at without much labour 
when leaks occurred. The system of arranging the 
pipes on a level was a good one, but where practicable, 
a slight rise in the pipes was certainly advisable, for 
thereby better circulation was ensured. 
Deep excavations in heating by hot water should be 
avoided to the utmost extent, as they were not only 
costly at the outset, but the pipes were difficult to get 
at in case of breakdowns, which might be expectedCn 
the best regulated arrangements. He advocated the 
principle in which the mains were laid outside 
the house. . The size of mains are important and 
respecting this subject there was a variety of opinions. 
In large schemes he advised the use of 6 in. mains for 
one boiler, say for a distance of 20 ft., then 5 ins. were 
large enough for the remaining distance the water had 
to travel. Good chambers should be provided, and 
those for the flow and return mains should not be less 
than 18 ins. wide. The bottoms should be bricked, 
and should be of such a nature that moisture from 
without could be entirely excluded. If the pipes were 
capable of drawing in moisture they corroded quickly 
and were destroyed in a very few years. In fixing the 
pipes curves should be avoided to the utmost possible 
extent. 
To arrive at the quantity of pipes for different 
structures was very difficult. A house fully exposed 
would require a greater amount of pipes to maintain 
a given temperature than one otherwise situated ; and 
it also depended upon whether the pipes were or were 
not exposed to the atmosphere. In all structures 
double the quantity of pipes really required should be 
provided. In this matter the size of a house and the 
purpose for which it was needed would be sufficient 
guidance for all practical men. He might say for the 
benefit of those who did not understand the subject, 
that if a temperature of 65° at night during winter was 
wanted, and the house (span roofed) to be warmed was, 
say, 40 ft. long, 20 ft. wide, 5 ft. 6 ins. high at the eave, 
and 12 ft. high to the ridge, fully exposed, it should 
have no less than eight rows of 4-in. pipes, that was 
four rows on each side and across the ends, with the 
exception of the doorways. Half the number would 
have to be very highly heated to be certain of that 
temperature, and at times it could not be kept up. A 
house of this description would contain 7,350 cubic ft. 
of air ; thus the eight rows or 428 ft. of 4-in. pipes 
were equal to 17* ft. of piping for every cubic feet of 
air to maintain a given -temperature of 65°. If an 
intermediate temperature were required, say, 55° in a 
house of the same size, 14J ft. per cubic foot of air 
would be required, or at 45° nearly 12 ft. He clung to 
the old system of packing joints with iron filings as the 
best and most durable when properly done. He passed 
over the supply tank by saying that in large arrange¬ 
ments, as a rule, one was sufficient, but it was well to 
make provision for a second by placing it in the centre, 
for where there were 10,000 ft. of piping to be heated 
from the mains it would take many hours to fill it. He 
alluded to the position of the flow and return pipes, 
and remarked that the sluice pipe should be of such a 
size that the water could rush out -with force. There 
should be a thermometer at the end so that the heat of 
the water could be ascertained. 
Thermometers were of great sendee to the man on 
duty, for he could see at a glance whether the water 
had risen or the reverse, during his absence, according 
to the weather. Thermometers at the boilers, however, 
were useless unless outside atmospheric conditions were 
noticed. He also passed over his system of boilers by re¬ 
marking that it was of the greatest importance that they 
should be setright if everything was to prove satisfactory. 
A great deal depended upon a good stoker as to the 
quantity of fuel used. When black smoke issued from 
the chimney it was certain that waste was going on. 
To be a thoroughly good stoker he must study the peculi¬ 
arities of the boiler, and the way in which it should be 
best worked. Unless this was done it was impossible to 
work it effectually. Success could only be attained in 
stoking by practice, patience, and observation, and any¬ 
one wishing to excel in this might do so by perseverance 
combined with the exercise of intelligent thought. 
An interesting discussion followed, opened by Mr. 
Swan, Howick House. He expressed his pleasure that 
such a subject had been introduced, for from experience 
he could say that some pipes were fixed in a manner 
that was a disgrace to any engineering firm. It was 
impossible for a gardener to do credit to himself or the 
material placed at h's command, if the heating appa¬ 
ratus were so arranged that it would not perform its 
work with any degree of satisfaction. He considered that 
great attention ought to be devoted to the system of 
laying pipes. He deprecated the use of those T-shaped. 
A number of questions were asked and answered, after 
which a hearty vote of thanks was accorded to Mr. 
Bardney, on the motion of the chairman, seconded by 
Mr. Swan, and supported by Mr. Waters. A similar 
compliment having been paid to the chairman, the 
meeting terminated. 
-- 
LIL1UM CHALCEDONICUM. 
The Lily of the field is not of necessity a Lily of any 
kind that will correspond to our definitions ; it may be 
understood as a flower, and that is sufficient. To make 
a serious botanical study of the purport of the impres¬ 
sive lesson of the Lily in the Sermon on the Mount 
would be to put our paltry views of Mature on a level 
with the most homely and searching of Divine ad¬ 
monitions. It must suffice, therefore, to say that the 
frail flower painted by the creative hand surpasses in 
glory the greatest works of man, and teaches him the 
sources of his benefits and his dependence on the bounty 
of Heaven. But associations have their uses to the 
mind of man, and it is neither irreverent nor unreason¬ 
able to ask if any particular Lily might be associated 
with the lesson that has sunk deeper perhaps than any 
into the human heart. There are probably onlv two 
species of Lilium common to the Holy Land, at all 
events only two are mentioned in Dr. Tristram’s 
“Survey of Western Palestine.” These are Lilium 
candidum, seen wild on Lebanon, and L. chalcedonicum 
marked as not seen, though known to be in the country. 
This Lily is known in gardens as the scarlet Mar- 
tagon. It is, however, quite distinct from Lilium 
martagon, which is commonly called the Turk’s Cap 
Lily. The last one is of the commonest, but a good 
border flower for all that, and one that has many forms, 
as, for example, the pure white and the Dalmatic, the 
colour of which is blackish purple. The common variety 
is of a dull purple colour, by no means attractive, 
nevertheless pleasing and useful. 
The scarlet Martagon is not common, although easy 
to cultivate and resplendent in its beauty. In the later 
days of July it presents a liberal head of turban-shaped 
flowers of the most brilliant sealing-wax red colour. It 
is quite hardy, and thrives in any good soil, but is not 
happy in a calcareous soil, nor in one that is of a poor, 
dry nature. 
How far east this Lily extends we do not know. It 
is probably scattered through the temperate parts of 
Southern Asia, for we meet with one very much like it 
in Japan, the book name of which is L. ealossum, less 
in growth than chalcedonicum, but serving fairly well 
as a smallish copy of it. Another nearly related kiurl 
is L. carniolicum, of which there are vermilion and 
yellow varieties. 
For the full enjoyment of Lilies a considerable extent 
of garden is necessary, for when many kinds are planted 
in proximity their several beauties seem to neutralise 
each other. In isolated clumps and groups, set off by 
masses of leafy vegetation, these distinct and str ikin g 
flowers appear to singular advantage. Most delightful 
is it in a walk through a woodland scene to come upon 
great clumps of L. auratum, the golden-rayed Lily of 
Japan; or the cream-tinted, sometimes buff-coloured, 
L. testaceum, also known as L. excelsum ; or, most 
noble of all, and least of all understood, L. giganteum, 
that loves a deep damp bed of loam or peat, and needs 
shelter in the spring from the frosts that are then so 
destructive. 
The cultivation of Lilies in pots is much practised, 
and with many special advantages. In large gardens, 
pot Lilies are needed for the conservatory and entrance 
hall; in market gardens they are wanted to supply cut 
flowers in advance of the season for Lilies in the open 
ground. The amateur who would succeed in growing 
Lilies in pots must observe a few golden rules. In the 
first place the potting should be completed at the 
earliest time possible after the plants have flowered, for 
immediately the flowering period is over they begin to 
make new roots. If the bulbs have to be purchased, 
therefore, orders should be given early, and the potting 
should be completed immediately they come to hand. 
Another golden rule is to ensure perfect drainage by 
packing the crocks with care before the compost is put 
in the pots, for unless surplus water can escape readily, 
the soil will become sour, and the plants will not 
prosper. As regards the soil, a mellow hazel loam con¬ 
taining abundance of vegetable fibre, such as loam from 
rotted turf, will suit any Lilies, as will also turfy peat 
of the best quality. The lovely longiflorum is decidedly 
partial to peat, but will thrive in loam with the rest. 
A calcareous soil is not good for any of them. Finally, 
they all enjoy liberal watering, and abundance of light 
and air. The common white Lily (L. candidum), and 
the long-flowered (L. longiflorum), are often forced for 
Easter flowers. 
The most useful of the garden Lilies, and, therefore, 
those that should be first secured by the amateur who 
is as yet not rich in Lilies, are the following: L. 
Browni, with very large trumpet-shaped flowers, white, 
delicately striped outside with purple. L. auratum, a 
giant of its race, the flowers expanded, with yellow 
stripes on white ground. L. candidum, the common 
white Lily, thriving almost anjnvliere, and yet a little 
fastidious. L. chalcedonicum, thriving best in a deep, 
rich loam. L. croceum, good and cheap, very ac¬ 
commodating. L. elegans, usually orange-red, but 
variable, and always useiul. L. longiflorum, a lovely 
trumpet-shaped flower of the purest white ; it requires 
a peaty soil, but it is not very particular. In a cold 
locality a sheltered spot should be selected for it. L. 
tigrinum, the Tiger Lily, a very thrifty plant, that is 
not particular about soil or situation. It is very gay, 
and some varieties flower late. Hence the Laureate 
puts it into the autumn garland : 
Heavily hangs the broad Sunflower 
Over its grave in the earth so chilly, 
Heavily hangs the Hollyhock, 
Heavily hangs the Tiger Lily. 
—Familiar Garden Floivers. 
