348 On the Construction of Kitchen 



be found most convenient (see page 203 *) ; but for per- 

 sons of moderate fortunes, to whom the economy of 

 house-room is an object of importance, a less expen- 

 sive arrangement may be chosen. 



It is very easy (as will be shown hereafter) so to 

 arrange the implements necessary in cooking for a 

 moderate family, as to leave the kitchen not merely 

 a habitable, but also a perfectly comfortable and even 

 an elegant room. All those who have seen the kitchen 

 in my house, at Brompton (which was fitted up prin- 

 cipally with a view to exemplify that important fact), 

 will not doubt the truth of this assertion. 



In treating the subject I have proposed to investigate 

 in this chapter, I shall first consider what forms will be 

 best for saucepans and stewpans that are designed to 

 be used in fixed fire-places, and shall then show how 

 those should be constructed which are designed to be 

 heated in a different manner. 



Of the Construction of Saucepans and Stewpans for 

 fixed Fire-places. 



The reasons have already been given why stewpans 

 and saucepans ought always to be circular. They are 

 indeed always made in that form ; but still, as they are 

 commonly constructed, they have a fault which renders 



* For all such fire-places, at least for all such as are destined for heating 

 stewpans and saucepans, I am quite sure that wood is the cheapest fuel that 

 can be used, even here in London, where it bears so high a price. It is certainly 

 the most cleanly and most convenient, and makes the most manageable fire. I 

 found by an experiment, made on purpose to ascertain the fact, that any given 

 quantity of wood, burned in a closed fire-place, gives very near three times as 

 much heat as it would give if it were first reduced to charcoal, and then burned 

 in the same fire-place. But the great advantage of using wood as fuel in the 

 small fire-places of stewpans and saucepans is the facility with which it may 

 be kindled, and the facility and quickness with which the fire may be put out 

 (by shutting the dampers) when it is no longer wanted. 



