At first efforts used to be
contrived to get this bottom heat by means of the old flue system, with
plenty of material covering the bricks, to break, in part, the dry
burning nature of the heat.
Then hot water came in and furnished what was thought the acme of a
propagator, and tanks of elaborate workmanship, and made of the finest
material down to the commonest wood, were made so a circulation of hot
water was kept up over as large an area as the necessity of the owner
might require.
The results seemed excellent, but lo, every now and again, disastrous
failures would occur. A material would spread all around called by the
florist the cutting bench fungus, that would sweep through his crop like
a plague; all sorts of theories would be given, and numberless articles
appear in the horticultural periodicals of the day on its cause and
cure. Presently it was found that those who did not use a tank of water,
but had inclosed a space to be heated by hot water pipes, did not seem
to suffer so much from the invidious foe. Much moisture was found an
excellent remedy for the enemy, though it might have been its first
cause, as it could be best warded off by dousing with the once praised
hot water tank.
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