320 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



r May 2. 18W. 



" so that no cinders, and not even any ashes can fall through ? " 

 *'Yes, exactly." "But how can the tire draw up? and how 

 dull and dusty your lire must look." " Nothing of the kind, I 

 assure you; only try, and then you will see." But I did not 

 try, and beiug very much attached to old ways, I poked my fire 

 all the more, and rattled the duat out vigorously, thinking, 

 *' Whoever will may have a dull fire, hut I will not." 



Nearly a year passed, and I heard no more of solid-floored 

 grates, when the delusion, so I deemed it, reached my own 

 neighbourhood. Being assured by experienced persons of the 

 economy and convenience of the new plan. I determined to 

 try it, but only in my study. A son of Vulcan, well ex- 

 perienced in the matter, came and measured my grate, and 

 speedily, instead of open ironwork, it was floored with a solid 

 slab of iron, so that not a grain of dust could drop through. 

 Nest morning I was surprised to see the tire burning very 

 brightly, and to have no complaint about the difficulty of 

 lighting it. I was also surprised to find how seldom I had to 

 get up and put on fresh coals. After a week's experience we 

 were all satisfied of the comfort and economy of the new 

 scheme. Gradually I have extended the plan throughout the 

 whole house ; first in my study, then to the nursery, then to 

 the dining and drawing-rooms, and, lastly, to the kitchen. 

 Our experience reaches over two months, and we would on no 

 account return to the old system. An artisan's wife, a careful 

 body, weighed her coal, first while following the old plan, 

 then after adopting the new one, and finds that by the latter 

 she saved just one-third. 



I hke this flooring the grate with solid iron for the following 

 reasons : — First, the fire wants making up only three times 

 a-day ; then there is a total consumption of coal, or nearly so, 

 as there are, or ought to be, no cinders, except those left in the 

 grate, and the larger pieces come in nicely for lighting the fire 

 in the morning. Then one's five is not always, as the maids 

 say, "dropping out," but will keep in for hours, and if once 

 " low," draws up again very quickly. Also, of this I am sure, 

 the amount of heat is greater than obtained by the old plan. 

 The servants make no objection, only they are apt to neglect 

 what I insist on — viz., throwing up every cinder that comes 

 through the front bars. The dust accumulating at the lowest 

 bar must be gently removed by the poker. In large towns, 

 where I believe riddling of cinders is never practised, the 

 saving would be greater than in the country, for, of course, the 

 loss of cinders ought to be borne in mind. I feel so certain of 

 the economy of this plan, that I have had the grates of some of 

 my poorest parishioners altered for them. 



I send this account to "our Journal," as many careful 

 housekeepers who may not have heard of this plan, will be 

 glad to have a hint in economy, and, indeed, the saving of coal 

 is a national duty, inasmuch as it is believed by scientific men 

 who have examined into the matter, that our mines will become 

 exhausted in a certain number of years. — Wiltshire Rector. 



[We believe that this plan is worthy of adoption, and we 

 found our opinion not only upon our correspondent's ex- 

 perience, but upon that of Serjeant Warren, who, we believe, 

 was the originator of the plan. This well-known author is 

 Recorder of Hull, and at a dinner held in that good old port in 

 the January of the present year, he publicly advocated this 

 mode of economising fuel. His address was exeelleut, and with 

 equal excellence it has been versified by a clever physician as 

 follows : — 



"Mr. MAroR, 



Corporation, rrnd Town, 

 To all, with a fervour sincere, 

 I Viish every hlessinfr may crown 

 A prosperouf happy New Year. 



Pei-mit me some facts to instil 

 In your minds, on a practicsU ques- 

 tion ; 

 That may show you at least my good 

 will 

 By a kindly and useful suggestion. 



Do yon wish to o'^tam without waste 

 Due heat from the coal you have 

 paid for: 

 Or preft^rit to bu-.-n out in haste, 

 ifot working the good it was made 

 for? 



Do you wish— I may ask in a word — 

 To save your domesf ics some trouble; 

 To lessen your coal billH a third : 

 And the warmth of your hearth to 

 make double ? 



If vou do, to my Euidance attend : 

 For some sevr-n veara. mor*^ or less, 



I have teet.^d, with many a friend, 

 A pkn with onbioki-n success. 



By me no invention is clnimpd. 



I read the idea in Thr Builder : 

 And the paragraph on pht to be framed 



By some eminent carver and gilder. 



If you lookhowyourgrateshave been 

 made, 

 You'll see that the blacksmiths— Od 

 rot Vni ! 

 Have forced, for to for^'e is their trade, 

 A layer of bars at the bottom. 



Now, haviniT been called to th** Bar, 



I know where the bars ought to be ; 

 And those blacksmiths— whoeverthoy 

 art>— 

 Should be brought up, as forgers, 

 to mr. 



For observe how the coal must be 

 placed 



Twixt a couple of di-aughts to con- 

 same : 



V.'hich caus?s your fuel to waste, 

 And the heat to grow less m your 

 room. 



\ow when I first reached my hotel 

 On Wednesday afternoon last, 



"'v^ fire was made— ind made well- 

 Yet I Bhivered at many a blast. 



So I sent for my landlord— (pood man, 

 I knew I should not overtask him). 



And heaoui^ht him to follow my plan. 

 He has done so, with what result? 

 Ask him. 



Since my fire was made up at ten 

 I've enjoyed allthe warmth I desire; 



And at five I'm the warmest of men. 

 Without thrusting my nose in the 

 fire. 



Not an ounce of additional coal 

 Has been needed, nor watching, nor 

 stoker ; 

 Save to break an occasional hole. 

 Or to press down the top, with the 

 poker. 



N« iw, how was all this brousht about ? 

 I will tell you, — as blacksmiths 

 environ 

 Your excellent town, call one out 

 With a small piece of common sheet 

 iron. 



He will speedily cut you a plate 



(Any palteni will do on a pinch), 

 It should just fit the base of your 



t^ate. 

 With athickness one-sixth of an inch. 



Let your maid in the usual style 

 Lay your flre, and have it ijniited, 



Leave the lowest bar open awhile. 

 And you'll be both amazed and de- 

 lighted. 



For as soon as tlie fii*e burns throueh 

 The coals, with waim glow and 

 briglif flashes. 

 The heat will not fly up the flue. 

 Nor your hearth be encumbered 

 witli ashes. 



In ray break ffist-room pi'ate I began. 

 In mv dining-room ne.xt, and my 

 kitchen ; 

 Then everywhere followed the plan 

 With success that was really be- 

 ^Titching. 



In my residence (likewise) official : 

 And, mv fire once lit, I may say 



That attention the most superficial 

 Will last for the whole of the day. 



Now. prav do not smile atmy plan. 

 Nor think my su^pestinn is dull ; 



For I'm anxious to do wiiat I can 

 For the good of the old Unyn of Hull. 



Try it f jiirly, I beg of you all, 

 Ereyour coal stores unduly decreaee : 

 Befrm with our neble Town Hall, 

 And the Town Clerk, and Clerk of 

 the Peace. 

 I don't mind defrayint; the cost 



If you find that experiment fail ; 

 And prav ask mv excellent host, 

 Mr. Bainton, to tell you his tale. 



As I wri'e for the good of the town, 

 For householders mighty or small* 



Pray publish the facts I note down 

 For the general profit of all. 



For the cold winter winds bite se- 

 verely ; 

 And coal is expensive to order : 

 I remain, my dear Mayor, most sin 

 cerelv— Yours, 



SAMUEL WARREN, 



Recorder. 



P,S.— If this plan do not answer— 

 For chimneys m^v obstinate be — 



Just draw out the plate— which yon 

 can. Sir. 

 For it isn't a fixture, you see. 



Appro^intr the scheme and its fitness , 

 And finding a trial work w<dl— 



Mr, Bainton declares Wf sliall witness 

 Its merits throughout his hole!. 



On reading this amiable letter. 



And the plan which its pages untold, 

 I ask, Could there well be a better 



Suggestion to keep out the cold? 



Hurrah ! for a true friend in season. 

 His name shall be hailed with a 

 cheer. 

 He may claim the good wishes— witn 

 reason— 

 Of ten times "Ten Thousand a- 

 Year." 

 "Now and then" the idea which he 

 mentions 

 Will be known as his "New Work, 

 with Plates." 

 And the fruit of his kindly intentions 

 Will be famed as the Warren-ted 

 Grates. 



All hail! then, warm hearths and 

 bright fires. 

 Henceforth from chill currents set 

 free, 

 Till ice-cro^vnpd old winter retires. 

 And we welcome the "Lily and 

 Bee."; 



OUR LETTER BOX. 



Preserving Eggs {E. S.). — We answered a similar query in our last 

 number, price 304. 



Peacock's Feathers with a Film of Skin (A. B.). — Your bird is ont 

 of health, and probably feverish. The feather form? properly but dries 

 up. Give no whole corn. Feed on meal slaked with cold water, and let 

 him have plenty of lettuce. It is an admirable poultry medicine at this 

 time of year. There is no objection to splitting and removing the filmy 

 ease that holds the feather. 



Brahma Pootra Chickens Losing their Feathers tW. F).—li is 

 often the fact that chickens appear more naked when their feathers are 

 comiuer than they did while only partially covered with down. The wing 

 feathers trrow faster than the others, and' throw them into the shade, and 

 many part-f of their bodies are always naked till perfectly fledged. Many 

 of our own are in this predicament ; but we do not think it worth notice, 

 as they ave evidently in perfect health. We like to let well alone. 



Chickens' Legs Swollen iNorth). — We imagine, from your descrip- 

 tion, that the hens have left the chickens for some time. If so, that will 

 partially account for their illness and falling ofi". They lack the covering 

 and warmth at uigbt, or it may be, you allow the hens to roam at liberty, 

 and they drag the chickens through the high wot grass. It is not high 

 for the hens, but it is for the chickens. We were watching our Brahmas 

 running in the grass a day or two ago, and seeing the treatment our hay- 

 ricks have received during the cruel winter, we were delighted to tind the 

 chickens* legs were not visible. Fancy chickens seven weeks old a hundred 

 yards from home, and overtaken by one of the pelting storms we have 

 had. If they were lucky enough to reach home they would hardly re- 

 cover; but whether witli or without the hen, they cannot do well if kept 

 on boards. That fact is enough to account fur crampy and swollen legs. 

 You do not, however, allow them sufficient space; 12 feet siiuare might 

 have done well some time since, but they have fn*'^wn in size and require- 

 ments, and want elbow-room Choose a dry. dusty, and sheltered spot. 

 If you hare no other house to give them, take an old china crate, cover 

 it carefully at the top and on three and alialf sides. See that inside it 

 be full of dust and thoroughly free from draughts, and at night put yonr 

 chickens in it. Place food and water close at hand for them tn find it in 

 the morning. You will save many by doing this, aud another year you 

 will save more by putting the hen and chickens out of doors, but keeping 

 the former under the rip. 



Pine Sawdost pci Egg-packing (Idem). — We should prefer it to bran 

 for packing eggs; but for a journey by railroad, even of four hundred 

 miles, we do not thiuk it would injure them for hatching. 



City Columbarian Society (B.C. J.).— The Secretary's address is. Mr. 

 J.Ford, Stamford Cottage, Summer Hill Road, West Green, Tottenhiim,N. 

 Honey C*ndving in Combs— Artificial Swarms (A Constant Reader), 

 — An extremely low temperature within the hive is the cause of honey 

 candying in the combs. Full instructions for making artificial swarms 

 with common hives were given by Mr. Woodbury in No. iHl of our New 

 Series, and a supplementary article from his pen on the same subject will 

 be found in No. 217. His instructions were also epitomised by us in reply 

 to a coiTcepondent in No. 271. 



