Till-: Prixcii'Lks of Brooding. 311 



1 1 . Provision for safety from fire 



There is less danger from fire with gasoHne than there ?s with kero- 

 sene when the system is properly understood, as it may be, by any one 

 who is capable of being entrusted with kerosene-heated brooders. The 

 gasoline system has the advantage that only one source of fire is pos- 

 sible with 200 chickens, whereas with small brooders there are four 

 possible fires with four flocks of fifty chickens each. The great danger 

 of fire from kerosene comes during cold weather when the flames are 

 turned up high in order to secure enough heat to keep the chickens 

 warm, or when the wicks are not properly trimmed, or where drafts 

 occur, which start the formation of soot, which in turn takes fire, unsolder- 

 ing the lamp and other parts and thus reaching the woodwork. The 

 blue flame of the gasoline burner provides an abundance of heat without 

 the necessity of turning the burner too high even in very cold weather. 



With the gasoline system danger might come if the flame were too 

 high; what is more likely to be the case, however, the gasoline flame 

 might go out when run too low, owing to the break which may occur 

 in the flow of the gasoline, due to air bubbles, foreign matter, or the 

 presence of water in the gasoline which settles in the burner as the 

 gasoline evaporates. This does not often occur. The gasoline will 

 continue to flow when for any reason the flame is extinguished, and will 

 fill the heater space with a very explosive vapor. The attendant who, 

 through carelessness or ignorance, undertakes in such a case to light 

 the burner before the vapors have escaped, may cause an explosion. 

 Gasoline itself is not explosive. It is the vapor which is given off that 

 causes explosions, and which ignites and burns. A fire of this nature 

 is difficult to extinguish because the vapor is expansive and readily 

 rises and burns where a liquid could not go. 



There is also danger from fire if the heater is so constructed that the 

 flame can by any possibility reach the woodwork. In order to guard 

 against this possible danger, the heater recommended is made of gal- 

 vanized iron so joined as to make unsoldering impossible. It is made 

 as nearly fire proof as a device can be constructed where a flame is used. 

 In order to prevent explosions and to provide against danger through 

 carelessness in case the flame should go out, the heater is so constructed 

 that the gasoline is conducted out doors instead of leaving it to evap- 

 orate within the burner box. (F g. 100.) 



1 2 . Importance of a large, roomy hover 



A large hover almost the entire width of the house, with slit table 

 oil-cloth curtains to prevent a too rapid escape of heat from under 



