426 SATURDAY IN MY GARDEN 



pose is small coke broken up into pieces not larger than a pigeon's 

 egg. The material commonly called *' breeze " will be found 

 serviceable, especially if a proportion of small coal be added to it. 

 Anthracite coal mixed with the coke produces a great heat and it 

 has the further advantage that it is smokeless, but the cost is so 

 great as to be almost prohibitive in the case of the amateur of 

 limited means. 



So that a boiler fire may be kept alight throughout the night, 

 it will be necessary early in the evening, especially if the fire has 

 been burning all day, carefully to rake out all the spent ashes and 

 clear out the ashpit. Pull the unburnt fuel together, add a little 

 fresh dry coke, draw out the damper, and open the ashpit door. 

 This will create a good draught and cause the fire to burn brightly. 

 In an hour's time it will be ready for banking up. The coke and 

 coal which it is intended to use should previously have been 

 moistened with water. This will cause it to burn more slowly and 

 will give it the " lasting " quality which is so essential in the case 

 of a fire which must remain unattended for ten or twelve hours. 

 The stove should be filled up to the top with coke. It will be found 

 a useful plan to finish off on the surface with a layer of damp 

 ashes. 



The regulation of the dampers can only be accomplished 

 satisfactorily after some amount of experience and experiment, 

 but it may be taken as a good working rule that on a calm, clear 

 night the damper should be pushed in half-way and the ashpit 

 door be allowed to remain half-way open. This will create 

 sufficient draught to keep the fire burning steadily and will not 

 cause it to roar away and become exhausted before morning. 

 When there is a high wind the damper should be pushed in further 

 and only the merest chink for the admission of air be allowed to 

 show itself at the ashpit door. 



In the morning if, as it should be, the fire is still alight, all that 

 is necessary is to rake out the spent ashes, add a little fresh coke, 

 and if the sun shines merely keep the fire smouldering till the time 

 comes to bank it up again in the evening. 



The amateur will of course need to use his own judgment in 



