22 
THE FLORIST’S JOURNAL. 
in green-houses or stoves. A common flue is also both a clumsy and an expen¬ 
sive means of obtaining artificial heat, and therefore we would not recommend 
it, especially in a small green-house. The safest, simplest, most easily ma¬ 
naged, and, in the end, by far the cheapest means of heating such houses as that 
which W. D. is erecting, is the pipes, or tubes, for circulating hot water, con¬ 
structed by Mr. Weeks, jun., of Gloucester Place, King’s Road, Chelsea. All 
the heat required is just what suffices to dry the air when too damp for the 
plants, and to heat the house a few, but not to many, degrees above freezing, 
in cold weather. These purposes could be fully accomplished by a set of pipes 
surrounding the house, a little way inside the walls. They consist of a double 
set—an open one, for conveying the water from the fire to the distant parts, 
and a lower one, for carrying the water back to the cistern—and thus carrying 
on the circulation. The first of the pipes takes up the newsupply of water, and 
it is discharged back into the cistern with very little waste. Thus, in a small 
green-house, a few pitchers of water will keep up the supply during the 
whole season that artificial heat is required; very little fuel is necessary, from 
the extent of surface which the pipes present to the fire ; and thus the ma¬ 
nagement costs very little expense or trouble, and the apparatus is not liable 
to get out of order. Altogether it is cleanly and economical, and soon repays 
the few pounds of cost. 
We agree with “ P.” in thinking that private gardeners to noblemen and gen¬ 
tlemen are the real parties to whom we must look for the improvement of 
floriculture. The production of new varieties and superior flowers is their 
main object, without any reference to the increase of mere number and the 
profits of soil—considerations which must necessarily take the lead with every 
nurseryman and mercantile florist, whatever may be his abilities. Therefore 
every thing which tends to lower the condition of those private gardeners who 
have the charge of numerous, varied, and valuable collections, is a serious 
injury to the science of flowers, and the art of cultivating them in the best 
manner, as well as to the making of those experiments which are calculated to 
bring to light their most valuable properties, and stock the grounds and houses 
with new and splendid varieties, independently of imported plants. 
“ P.” is perhaps right, when he states that Sir William Jackson Hooker is not 
so skilful in the practical cultivation of plants as Mr. John Smith, of the Royal 
Gardens, Kew; for the latter is not only intimately acquainted with the nature 
and growth of every species of plant in that extensive and valuable, though 
once sadly neglected collection, but many fine specimens, which have been 
reared from seeds or cuttings, now stand witnesses to his ability and assiduity. 
Still, though we readily admit all this, we demur to the conclusion that Mr. 
Smith ought to be promoted to the office now filled by Sir William. The fact 
is, that there is room for them both, and they may mutually be of great ser¬ 
vice to each other, and jointly to the science and practice of botany. The 
name of Sir William Hooker will give eclat to the establishment. His urbane 
and gentlemanly manners will attract the esteem of every body, and make the 
working men labour with cheerfulness and assiduity ; and in addition to this, 
