292 On the Construction of Kitchen 



doors of large dimensions, they should be divided into 

 a number of compartments, otherwise the centre pieces, 

 or the panels properly so called, being very large, the 

 shrinking of the wood with heat will be apt to make 

 them quit the grooves of their frames, which would 

 open a passage for the cold air to approach the surface 

 of the iron door. 



In fastening the wooden panel to its iron door, it will 

 be best that the wood should not come into immediate 

 contact with the iron. Two or three sheets of cartridge 

 paper, placed one upon the other, may be interposed 

 between them ; and, to prevent the possibility of this 

 paper taking fire, it may previously be rendered incom- 

 bustible by soaking it in a strong solution of alum, 

 mixed with a little Armenian bole or common clay. 

 This paper will not only assist very much in confining 

 the heat, but will also effectually prevent the wood from 

 being set on fire by heat communicated through the 

 iron door of the roaster. It is, indeed, highly improb- 

 able that the roaster should ever be so intensely heated 

 as to produce this effect ; but, as the strangest accidents 

 sometimes do happen, it is always wise to be prepared 

 for the worst that can happen. 



As the centre piece of wood, or panel properly so 

 called, which fills up the wooden frame, is only one 

 third of an inch in thickness, while the frame is one 

 inch in thickness, it is evident that, if the face of the 

 frame be made to apply everywhere to the flat surface 

 of the iron door, the centre piece will not touch it. 

 This circumstance will be rather advantageous than 

 otherwise, in confining the heat; but still it will re- 

 quire some attention in fastening the wood to the iron. 

 Each of the two rivets which pass through this centre 



