CHAPTER XVI.

THE WALTONIAN CASE.

Definition. Form. - Construction. - Capacity. - Heating.- Lamp. - Oil. Gas.. - Pots.- Sand Bottom.- Description of Case. - Various Sizes. -Advantages over Hot-bed. - How to make a Cutting. - Waltonian Principle applied to Wardian Case.

IGHTLY considered, a Waltonian Case is a drawing-room propagating house. It is

not a heated Wardian case, unless

we define a Wardian as a par

lor conservatory; then the

Waltonian is a parlor stove or

hot-house. Any glass frame or case,

in which the air is warmed by the applica

tion of heat, either directly from a lamp, or by means of hot water, would be a Waltonian case.

The first invention of Mr. Walton, from whom the case

is named, was placing a tin case, filled with hot water, inside a wooden box, covered with a glass. The air inside

was kept close and warm, but there was not power enough to raise temperature very much, nor sufficient to root cuttings. Bottom heat, which is one of the features of the Waltonian case, was at first entirely wanting.

By much experimenting many changes were made and improvements introduced, until now the Waltonian case is the best method an amateur can use to supply himself with bedding plants. It is a hot-bed, without the dirt and inconvenience; an ornament instead of an unsightly object; inexpensive, and yet accomplishing wonders; an indispensable aid to the amateur florist.

As far as we know, these pretty little cases are not made in this country; they may, however, be imported for about ten dollars each, and expense of freight and exchange. We trust, however, in our description to be sufficiently intelligible to render their construction an easy matter.

We can, however, lay no claim to originality in this chapter; we have but collected all the best information on the subject.

Now that the best form, the best measurements, and the exact details of construction have been determined by experiment, no one, however previously ignorant of ordinary gardening operations, need find it difficult to produce an

abundance of stock for the garden, the green-house, or the window; for it may be a hot-house, an intermediate-house, or a cold pit, just as you please, by a very simple regu

lation.

The Waltonian case is fashioned in the style of a garden frame, the frame-work being of wood, with side and top lights, a boiler and lamp for supplying heat, and a tray of sand, on which the pots are placed.

To give the reader an idea of the appearance of the case, we will at once refer to the figure of one of simplest construction, which we propose to describe particularly.

The frame-work is of wood, and may be either plain deal, or any ornamental wood with elegant mouldings. The front and the two ends are fitted with glass, the back is wholly of wood, and on the top are two lights, laid on loosely. There is room inside for thirty-two four inch pots, in four rows of eight each, and these pots stand on a thin layer of silver sand, kept constantly damp, and heated by the boiler immediately beneath it. The lamp in front is a common tin one, burning colza oil.

(This oil is

much used in Europe; it is a very fine oil, burning without smoke, and is pressed from rape seed (Brassica oleracea);

with us the heat may be from a gas jet, a spirit, or fluid lamp.) And the cost of working would be about fifty cents a week.

The time the lamp will burn must depend upon the size and the care used in trimming; and to keep it burning

constantly would require but little care. Having glanced at it so far, let us now take the case to pieces. The top lights lift off, without troubling with hinges, hooks, or attachments of any kind. They are simple squares of

glass let into a zinc bedding, and with a ring by which to lift them. This plan allows them to be shifted, to give air to any extent necessary. Having removed these, we find the pots standing on clear, damp sand. When the pots are removed it is an easy matter to lift out the whole of the heating apparatus, by means of the two handles attached to the zinc tray, and its appearance is that in Figure 2.

The upper tray B B is an inch deep, and in this, sand an inch deep is carefully spread over.

Attached to it is the

boiler A, which is in reality double, one portion enabling the hot air and the smoke of the lamp to circulate round the tank, and escape by means of the flue D, to which the funnel E is attached when in operation. The tank itself being filled by means of the vapor tube C, on which a cap fits to prevent any excessive escape of steam. The boiler holds about two quarts of water.

If we turn the tray upside down, we have the appearance presented by Figure 3, where F is the boiler, and G the