THE WARMING OF HOUSES. 475 



the same goodly logs as fuel, and a supply which will enable us to af- 

 ford the blaze that alone would suffice to rarefy a cavern. The ordi- 

 nary coal-fires of our apartments do not need a larger flue than a pipe 

 of 9 in. in diameter. Mr. Richardson, in his work, states that the 

 houses built by Cubitt in Belgravia have flues 9 in. by 9 in. only, while 

 others erected later have them 14 in. by 9 in., and that these are dis- 

 tinguishable outside by the absence or presence of objectionable cowls 

 respectively. Kitchen-flues must be larger, in proportion to their 

 fires, or better, perhaps, doubled a practice for which old precedents 

 may be found, and which seems calculated to avoid down-draughts. 



For the avoidance of that particular nuisance, however, special 

 provision should be made in every flue. This may be done by an en- 

 larged space, wherein the force of gusts of wind may expend itself 

 upon, as it were, a cushion of air. If the first pipe above the chim- 

 ney-mantel be a 9-inch pipe, let the next be a 15-inch one, and the 

 flue above continued with 9-inch ones. A somewhat similar arrange- 

 ment has been proposed by Mr. Boyd for brick flues. He discontinues 

 the vertical flue a few feet above the mantel with an enlarged space or 

 pocket, and carries an inclined one from the fireplace into this on one 

 side, and the down-draught, thus meeting resistance at the bottom, ed- 

 dies round the space, without being able to check the upward draught 

 from below. Mr. Cubitt's continuation of the flue to the basement also 

 obviously affords a resisting column of air to accomplish the same pur- 

 pose. It may be impossible to make such cavities large enough to 

 overcome the effect of every down-draught, but these provisions against 

 them will generally secure this desired end if combined with ample pro- 

 vision of air to the fireplace. 



The use of pipes for the lining of flues has the advantage of com- 

 pelling a good' and non-porous finish, which would otherwise be neg- 

 lected by careless workmen, who often will not take the trouble to 

 properly parget and core the flues in stone and brick walls. The inte- 

 rior of the pipes, however, should be rough, and by no means glazed, 

 or their inability to give any means of adherence to soot will be found 

 a nuisance, in consequence of its continual dropping. The old funnel- 

 shaped throat left a large space above the grate filled with cold air, 

 which checked the draughts. This depends much upon the grate itself; 

 but, generally speaking, the flue should be contracted to its smallest 

 size as soon as possible above the mantel. Iron frames for this pur- 

 pose, serving as mantel-bars as well, such as Gibbs's registered fire- 

 place-lintel, are useful appliances. A concrete block may be made of 

 the shape required at perhaps the least cost. . . . 



The construction of the fireplace itself is of the most importance. 

 The contraction of the flue immediately over it is the first point to be 

 looked to, and next the provision of a proper supply of air for the com- 

 bustion of the fuel. To illustrate this in the simplest manner, I may 

 refer to a small room with a large fireplace in it, belonging to a friend, 



