obtained in the Combustion of Fuel. 347 



To make a good fire in a bad grate, the bottom of 

 the grate must be first covered with a single layer of 

 balls, made of good firebricks or artificial firestone, well 

 burned, each ball being perfectly globular, and about 

 2-J or 2-| inches in diameter. On this layer of balls 

 the fire is to be kindled, and, in filling the grate, more 

 balls are to be added with the coals that are laid on ; 

 care must, however, be taken in this operation to mix 

 the coals and the balls well together, otherwise, if a 

 number of the balls should get together in a heap, they 

 will cool, not being kept red-hot by the combustion of 

 the surrounding fuel, and the fire will appear dull in 

 that part; but if no more than a due proportion of the 

 balls are used, and if they are properly mixed with the 

 coals, they will all, except it be those perhaps at the 

 bottom of the grate, become red-hot, and the fire will 

 not only be very beautiful, but it will send off a vast 

 quantity of radiant heat into the room, and will con- 

 tinue to give out heat for a great length of time. It is 

 the opinion of several persons who have for a consid- 

 erable time practised this method of making their fires, 

 that more than one third of the fuel usually consumed 

 may be saved by this simple contrivance. It is very 

 probable that, with careful and judicious management, 

 the saving would amount to one half, or fifty per cent. 



As these balls, made in moulds and burnt in a kiln, 

 would cost very little, and as a set of them would last 

 a long time, probably several years, the saving of 

 expense in heating rooms by chimney fires with bad 

 grates, in this way, is obvious ; but still, it should be 

 remembered that a saving quite as great may be made 

 by altering the grate, and making it a good fireplace. 



In using these balls, care must be taken to prevent 



