AIR-TIGHT STOVES. 47 



All air-tight stove made as hot as an ordinary stove would be intolera- 

 ble ; but this it will never become, unless the passages are left open l)y 

 neglect. 



Wiica the fire is kindled, or fresh fuel put in, the sliding door in 

 front is fust moved nearly down, so as to afford room for the entrance 

 of no more air than is sullicient to produce the requisite combustion, 

 and then the valve, if it be used, may be gradually turned until the 

 drauglit is somewhat checked. When the stove is to be opened, the 

 valve must always be opened first, and then, if the front door be not too 

 suddenly opened, no explosion can lake place. If this order be followed 

 there is no more danger in the use of this kind of stove than any other. 



The advantages of stoves of this kind are very great and numerous. 

 First, there is a great saving of fuel. In very moderate winter weather 

 four or five sticks of hickory wood, of about three inches in diameter, 

 and eighteen in length, will keep a room of about fourteen feet by twen- 

 ty-one, perfectly comfortable during the whole of the twenty-four hours. 

 In colder weather, when the thermometer ranges near 0", about ten such 

 sticks will give the requisite temperature for the same length of time; 

 whilst a common ten plate stove would consume about two dozen or 

 more of sticks of the same size in that time. Secondly, the making of 

 the fire need be attended to only about four times per day, and thus a 

 great deal of trouble and attention is spared ; indeed once making of 

 the fire would be sufikient; for the whole charge of fuel for the twenty- 

 four hours might be put in at once, but then the wood at the sides lies 

 between the fire and a part of the stove, and prevents that part from 

 giving out as much heat as it would do, if there were only about three 

 or four sticks in at a time. It is therefore better to lay on only about 

 that number of sticks at a time. In addition to this, the stove requires 

 very little regulating. A little experience will enable any one to give 

 the necessary draught by the front door and valve almost at once. The 

 sclf-regulaling variety of this stove is still more convenient. The 

 charge of wood for the time intended, is put in at once, and the regula- 

 tor set to any desired temperature, and then no more attention is re- 

 quired until the fuel is consumed. The regidation is effected by means 

 of a straj) of brass or copper rivited at one end fast to the top and lying 

 with its whole length against the top; the other or free end acts against 

 a short lever , and this against the short end of a longer lever, the long 

 end of which turns the valve, which admits or shuts off the air. But 

 the stove must be seen, in order that tliis part may be well understood. 

 Tliis seems to be the perfection of the means of warming an apartment. 

 It is a perfect luxniv; no one, wlio has had the use of such an appara- 



