April 2, 1887. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
489 
- 
They take the fancy of all who see them, and well 
deserve the most flattering commendation that can be 
bestowed on them. 
-->X«-- 
HEATING WITHOUT COST. 
Startling as this heading may appear, it is neverthe¬ 
less practically true. At Broadfield, Leyland, Preston, 
Mr. Stanning has an ingenious arrangement for heating ' 
the houses by using the waste steam from his works 
adjoining the garden. In a stokehole by the side of 
the boilers is a cylinder 4 ft. 6 ins. long, and 2 ft. 2 ins. 
diameter, containing a number of tubes connected with 
the flow and return pipes heating the houses. Into 
this cylinder steam is introduced by means of a small 
the works to be condensed. The dozen or so powerful 
steam boilers are 150 yds. distant from this part of the 
garden ; but how many yards the steam travels through 
the works, and the multifarious duties it performs 
before reaching the tank, it is difficult to say, for it 
appears that a journey of 100 yds. is of no consequence 
to it, providing the pipes are well packed. Any frames 
placed on the ground over the tank, or within a short 
distance, receive sufficient warmth to keep out frost, 
and in the summer, no doubt, advantage is taken of 
this underground heat for Melons and Cucumbers. 
The houses, which are four in number, are models of 
cleanliness, and Mr. Stanning evidently believes in 
paint, and, where practicable, the inside walls receive 
a coat or two. In the greenhouse are two large plants 
I have seen for many a day, and the whole are in re¬ 
markable health and vigour. They are growing in 
span-roofed cases, about 3 ft. 6 ins. wide, and some of 
these reach from one side of the house to the other. 
The bottom of the cases are fitted with lead troughs 
6 ins. deep, for the purpose of holding water, over 
which the plants stand. 
Hardy fruit culture is a leading feature at Broadfield, 
and over 500 maiden Apples and pyramidal Pear trees 
were planted ten years ago, 9 ft. apart. Amongst Apples, 
Golden Spire, Ecklinville Seedling, Einger, Grenadier 
and Pott’s Seedling fruited the second year, and were 
followed a year or two later by York Pippin, Lord Derby 
and Cellini. The best and earliest fruiting Pears were 
Jargonelle, Beurre Bose, Beurrd d’Aremberg, Louis 
Double varieties of Primula sinensis. 
pipe with stop-cock, which isjonly partially turned on. 
This heats the water in the tubes, and circulation 
takes place as in an ordinary boiler without any trouble 
or expense from Monday morning until Saturday after¬ 
noon beyond regulating the valves in the houses. 
The temperature of the water in the tubes may be 
kept at an uniform degree during the twenty-four 
hours, as the works are going day and night. A safety 
valve regulates any excess of steam in the cylinder. 
The length of 4-in. piping heated will be about 600 ft., 
but six times that length can be heated if desired. 
On Saturday afternoon a fire is lighted under one of the 
boilers to heat the places over Sunday. In the boiler- 
house, connected with the same waste-steam pipe, is a 
horizontal engine for pumping water for the laundry 
and other purposes from an underground tank near by, 
specially constructed to receive all the waste steam from 
of Lapageria alba and rubra, planted out in the centre 
bed, conducted up to the glass and trained along under 
the roof. The first-named had eighteen seed-pods. 
The front stage contained the usual class of soft-wooded 
plants, and in the stove adjoining I noticed a large 
plant of Pandanus utilis, Microlepia hirta cristata, 
several healthy plants of Phaius grandifolius, Eucharis 
Amazonica and E. Candida. The latter, Mr. Kirkman, 
the gardener, stated, flowers more freely than its com¬ 
panion. The vinery is a mixed one, planted with Black 
Hamburgh, Foster’s Seedling and Muscat Hamburgh 
on its own roots, as well as worked on Hamburgh and 
Foster’s Seedling, which is considered a great improve¬ 
ment on Vines on their own roots, judging from the 
fruit they bore last year for the first time after being 
worked. The conservatory is a three-span ridged 
erection, and contains the best collection of filmy Ferns 
Bonne and Brockworth Park. On the south and west 
walls Doyenne du Comice, Marie Louise, Jargonelle, 
double grafted, Williams’ Bon Chretien, Beurre Hardy, 
Beurre Bose, Seckle, Duchesse d’Angouleme and Easter 
Beurre succeed very well. 
This year Mr. Kirkman has cut down a certain 
number of Apple and Pear trees that have failed to give 
satisfaction, and these will be grafted with more reliable 
sorts. The top of the trees can be reached without a 
step ladder, so restricted is their growth by the operation 
of summer pinching and root pruning when necessary. 
This year they are all bristling with flower buds, and 
with suitable weather, heavy crops may be anticipated. 
I am fully convinced that if we wish to secure fine 
fruit we must proceed on the same lines as Mr. Stanning, 
and not permit the trees to grow as they please in the 
old fashioned way. — TP. P. R. 
