1857.] of Heat to Domestic Purposes, ^c. 428 



deficiency in the practical application of heat to domestic and 

 other useful purposes, which deprives all classes of much comfort 

 and benefit. For economy in the consumption of fuel is a matter 

 of great importance to the mass. 



Domestic Fire Places. — The universal practice of fixing grates, 

 and surrounding them with masonry, is defective in principle ; for 

 the masonry not only absorbs a large portion of the heat which is 

 required to warm the room, but throws a still larger portion up the 

 chimney. 



The heat which is thrown out from grates set in this manner 

 does not depend so much upon the quantity of fuel they contain, as 

 upon the amount of radiating and reflecting surfaces with which 

 that fuel is surrounded. The highly polished steel surfaces which 

 adorn the grates of those who can afford them reflect and radiate a 

 very large amount of heat in proportion to the fuel they contain ; 

 but as the mass of the people can ill aflford this costly mode of 

 obtaining heat, the object should be to secure the maximum of heat 

 with the minimum of cost. 



The detached or portable grate, similar to the Brussels stove, 

 will secure these advantages ; and if properly constructed, com- 

 bines all that can be desired for a domestic fireplace. It presents 

 an open cheerful fire, easy to regulate, — affords a large radiating 

 surface, — facilitates the operation of sweeping the chimney, — and 

 is the best security against a smoky one ; consequently dispenses 

 with those countless varieties of infallible curatives, called chimney 

 tops, which so disfigure all our houses. It acts also as a hot-air 

 stove. 



Domestic Cooking Apparatus. — The objection to casing our 

 domestic grates with masonry applies still stronger to cooking 

 ranges, for the wasteful expenditure of fuel is most apparent in all 

 our cooking arrangements. The remedy here is equally simple, by 

 the substitution of a detached cooking apparatus placed in the same 

 recess which receives the ordinary fixed kitchen range ; and a 

 portable kitchen stove of this construction may be seen in daily 

 operation at that interesting establishment, the North- West 

 Reformatory Institution, in the New Road, where they are manu- 

 factured by the inmates. Eighty-two persons are daily cooked for 

 at a cost of sixpence per day. 



It may not be out of place to suggest to those who take an 

 interest in the reformatory movement, a visit to that establish- 

 ment, and see what has been accomplished through the exertions of 

 one man (Mr. Bowyer), one of the most useful self-sacrificing 

 philanthropists of the day. 



Tlie Cottager's Stove, — There is a large and important class of 

 persons among the industrious and working classes, and also the 

 indigent poor, whose domestic wants demand our consideration. 

 For the purpose of at the same time warming their dwellings 

 and cooking their food in a simple and economical manner, *' Tlie 



