ANALYSES OF ILLUMINATING OILS. 



By virtue of the authority of au act of the General Assembly to 

 provide for the inspection of illnuiinating oils and fluids (ch. 554, 

 Laws of 1900), the following regulation has been adopted by the 

 Board of Agriculture: 



"Sec. 12. The flash test of illuminating oils shall not be less than 100 

 degrees Fahrenheit, as tested by the Elliott method — -closed cup — accordini; to 

 directions prepared by the State Oil Chemist. Illuminating oils which flash 

 below 175° Fahrenheit in the Elliott closed cup shall not contain more than 

 6 i)er cent by weight of residue remaining undistilled at 570° Fahrenheit when 

 distilled according to directions prepared by the State Oil Chemist ; except 

 that oils of not less than 47° Baume at 60° Fahrenheit shall not contain more 

 than 10 per cent of residue by weight." 



This section has been in force in its present form since December, 

 1910. These standards should insure a safe oil of at least fair grade. 



CARE OF LAMPS. 



Poor lights are often caused by the condition of lamps and wicks. 

 The oils which accumulate in the lamp should be thrown out every 

 month and the lamp thoroughly cleaned. 



The lamp should be filled and the charred portion of the wick 

 removed each time before lighting. 



Use a wick of good quality. The wick is the vital part of the 

 lamp. 



New wicks should he supplied every month or two. They should 

 be dried before the fire and put into the oil while still warm. Used 

 wicks should be dried every two weeks. Clogged wicks make poor 

 lights. Don't economize on wicks. They are cheaper than oil or 

 eyesight. 



A smoky flame may be due to a cheap burner or an unsuitable 

 chimney. Burner and chimney should be kept clean. 



If these directions are folloAved there will be less complaint of oil 



and lights. 



QUALITY OF KEROSENE. 



In judging the quality of a sample of kerosene of satisfactory flash 

 point, the following facts should be considered: 



It should be water-white in color and otherwise well refined. A 

 good oil may be ruined by careless treatment in tanks and barrels. 



It should show a large per cent of oil boiling below 250° C. 



The residue at 300° C. (572° Fahr.) should usually be less than 

 5 per cent. 



The Baume gravity should be above 43 degrees. 



The viscosity should be low. 



Sulphur should not exceed .035 per cent in a high-grade oil. 



