The Garden Under Glass

352 THE GARDEN UNDER GLASS crowded state. When a plant is seen to be becoming drawn it should at once be given more room, more air, more light. Drip.—The question of drip or the falling from the roof of Condensed moisture has already been alluded to under “ Condensation.” It here remains to be said that these groo ves or channels should be made in all houses erected. The fall of water from shelves on to plants below should also be avoided either by keeping plants from a position beneath them, or by grooving the shelf to admit of the water running to the ends and being led on to the flooring or a drain. Evaporating Pans.—It is an old rather than a modern idea to have pans built over the hot-water pipes in vinenes or plant houses to be kept filled with water. The idea is that by being over the warm pipes moisture will be discharged into the atmosphere. Modern gårdeners, however, find no need for them, and I certainly do not advise them. Expansion Joints.—There are two forms of joints generally used in connecting up hot-water pipes. These are known as socket joints and expansion joints. The socket joints are formed by caulking the space with red lead and tow. These are very effective when the work is properly done, but they are very difficult to take apart. The expansion joint is formed by screwing two flanges of iron tightly together round the pipes so as to expand a rubber ring placed on the open end. By this expansion of the rubber the water is kept back. A few minutes only are required to uncouple the pipes. Express Forcing.—Forcing plants into growth very quickly. This is done by giving a strong temperature and an atmosphere charged with moisture. Such forcing is strongly to be condemned except in cases of emergency. Certainly amateurs should never need to indulge in express forcing. Eye.—A populär term used to denote a bud or incipient growth. Propagation from eyes or buds in their elementary form is practised in the case of the grape vine. Feeder.—The tank in the heating apparatus by means of which water is supplied to the boiler and pipes is often called