Construction of Labourers Cottages. 



501 



on one side, a flat or stove on the other, a draw-out stand at 

 bottom, on which anything may be placed before the fire. 



The top of the oven and the flat are level with the fire; thus 

 in cooking the entire heat is made use of, the boilers, &c., being 

 placed wholly or in part on the fire. 



The oven is warmed partly by the heat conducted from the 

 fire through the side, and partly by the flue under and at the 

 side and back. 



The price of these grates is from 26^. to 285. The back is 

 formed wholly of fire-bricks ; these are not included in the cost. 



In the cottage erected by Sir Stewart Menteath, Bart., at 

 Closeburn, there is a warming-apparatus, 

 of which Fig. 6 is a section. 



Behind the fireplace of the kitchen is cmimg 

 an iron box. One side of this box, made 

 of strong sheet-iron, forms the back of 

 the fireplace. In communication with 

 this box, or air chamber, is a pipe which 

 admits a current of cold air. The air 

 entering the box, and being heated by the 

 fire, ascends through a pipe, and warms 

 the bedrooms. 



This plan, although economical of heat, 

 is subject to one serious drawback, viz., 

 the deterioration of the air which passes 

 through the flue^ for 



" when air is wnrraed by contact with licatcd sur- 

 faces, it is hal)le to be deteriorated in quahty if the 

 commnnication of heat bo too sudden and intense. 

 The minute floccules of dust, and probably many 

 attenuated portions of oro;anic matter which are 

 generally suspended in the air, and myriads of 

 wliich may be seen floatinjj; in the \v^\t of a sun- 

 beam, are decomposed at high temperatures, and their decomposition ]iroliabIy 

 gives that scorched or roasted flavour which is perceived in air which has been 

 in contact with hot surfaces. 



*' Metallic siu-faces, on accoimt of their great conducting ]X)wcr, by which 

 they readily receive and as readily part with heat, are most apt to ])roduce this 

 effect on the air. It is therefore highly disadvantageous to employ such 

 materials in any ai)paratus for heating, imless their temjieraturc be kejit mode- 

 rate. To avoiil all risk of unjileasant efiects, the surfaces employed to warm 

 air for human use should never be heated above the temperature of 107°." 



Whilst adopting tlie principle of warming the bed-rooms by 

 means of the fire on the ground-floor, we have taken care that 

 the heating stnfacc* sliall i)e ot no deleterious character. 



We have introduced Pcarce's Fire-Lump Crate,' wliiili con- 

 sists of a hollow back formed of fire-lump, and acting as a 

 warming cliamber. This chamber receives, by means of a pipe, 



* A medal at the Great Exhibition was awarded to this grate. 



