Improvements in Forcing Frames, Propagating Pans, and the like:
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Sept., 1896-Accepted, 24th Oct., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Forcing Frames, Propagating Pans, and the like:
I, ROBERT KLOCKE of Alt-Markgrafpicske near Berlin in the Empire of
Germany, Gardener, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained,
in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to a stand or forcing receptacle adapted for the propagation
of cuttings and for forcing flowers in the house, such receptacle consisting essentially
of two portions, that is to say, a lower portion for receiving the heating-coil of a
suitable water heating apparatus, and an upper portion in which the plants are
placed. The plants may be placed in the said receptacle, either when grown or
as cuttings and the like or set as seed, directly in soi! provided in the receptacle or
in flower pots. The receptacle may be provided with a cover, in which case it will
form a kind of forcing-house, or it may be uncovered when it will partake more of
the nature of a flower-table or stand.
My said improved receptacle is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in
which
Figure 1 is a longitudinal elevation partly in section,
Figure 2 a vertical cross-section,
Figure 3 a plan, shewing its application to a covered forcing-frame, whilst
Figure 4 represents a vertical section through a flower stand fitted with my
invention.
In both cases the forcing, receptacle a is divided into two parts c and d by means
of a horizontal false-bottom b.
Of these the upper portion d is the forcing part, that is to say, it contains the
plants.
When,
In the application of my invention shewn in Figures 1 to 3 of the drawings to a
covered forcing frame on the principle of a forcing house, the upper part d has
only to be filled with soil and covered with a removable glass covering e.
however, the receptacle is used as a flower-stand (see Figure 4) this upper part
remains uncovered so as to permit of large plants, such for instance as palms, being
stood thereon in pots.
The lower space c forms in either case the heating chamber which is provided
with a water heating apparatus formed of a coil wound in any desired manner
but preferably so that as much of the said beating chamber as possible is traversed
by the coil, thus ensuring a uniform heating of the upper division. When it is
intended to use the stand for supporting plants in pots (for which purpose the
form shewn in Figure 4 is suitable) the false bottom 6 may advantageously be
perforated so that the warm air may ascend directly into the upper division.
With reference now to the water heating apparatus, when this is arranged to be
heated at a central point, in the known manner, one end f¹ of the heating coil
serves as what is called the up pipe and leaves at the upper part of the boiler h, or
of the tubular device by which the boiler may be replaced, such boiler or its
equivalent being suitably heated, by means of a spirit lamp g for instance.
other end of the coil serves as what is called the down pipe and leads back
into the lower portion of the boiler or the like. As is well known such an
arrangement promotes a vigorous circulation of the water through the coil.
The
From the up pipe or from the highest point in the coil a conduit i (Figure 1)
branches up in a vertical direction and leads to the expansion chamber k, which, in
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page_text: the method of heating from a central point, serves to regulate the pressure in the
coil and the supply of water to the same in the known manner.
It will of course be understood that the form and dimensions of my improved
receptacles may in all cases be varied at will, the essential feature being the
arrangement of an upper or forcing compartment and a lower or heating-coil
compartment. A receptacle capable of being heated in the manner above described,
allows of the cultivation of flowers in the house under similar conditions to those
obtaining in a forcing house, and is an especially advantageous means of propa-
gating cuttings and forcing flowers grown from bulbs or the like. When suitably
constructed the flower table may be used as a stand for palms, and, as it can be
heated, it fulfils all the requisite conditions for the successful cultivation of house
palms.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the samne is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A forcing receptacle for indoor use comprising the following features a
case (a) for the propagation of cuttings and forcing flowers, the essential parts of
which being a lower heating compartment (c) for the reception of the heating
coil (f) of a water heating apparatus, and an upper forcing compartment (d) in
which the plants are set, planted or placed in pots and in which the said upper
compartment may if desired be closed by means of a glass cover (e) so as to form
as it were a forcing-house.
2. A forcing receptacle for propagating plants and forcing flowers in the house,
substantially as above described and set forth.
Dated this 8th day of September 1896.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.