95 



Xcver pump cold water in- 

 to a hot boiler or blow it off 

 under pressure. If the water 

 ohould be low (which it never 

 ought to be) find cut if it is 

 below the flues, and then bank 

 or cover the fire with ashes or 

 fresh coal if no ashes are at 

 hand, or draw at once. Don't 

 touch safety or any other 

 valves, and under no circum- 

 stance turn on the feed until 

 the boiler is partly cooled. 



The water having been 

 analyzed, consult an expert as 

 to boiler compound, but po- 

 tatoes or rice will, as a rule, 

 be good enough, and not hurt 

 the boiler as many compounds 

 do. 



To keep it clean let out about 2 inches of water every morn- 

 ing before starting the fire and wash out at least once a month. 

 If flues gather scale scrape off. It is said that 1-16 inch loses 15 

 per cent, and ^ inch 60 per cent, of the fuel value. 



Leaks should be stopped at once to prevent corrosion even 

 so leaking valves where the drip hits the boiler. As soon as 

 blisters appear, examine carefully and have them patched or 

 trimmed. All parts of the boiler exposed to the fire should be 

 kept perfectly clean and flues well i-wept, especially where wood 

 or soft coal is used. 



Mr. Krebs says in the "Dairy Messenger:" "In firing with 

 fine coal a thickness of three or four inches is ample; when 

 greater the combustion is imperfect, wasting fuel and preventing 

 the full power of the boiler from being developed. A thin fire, 

 sparing and frequently renewed, is attended in every way by the 

 best results. The fuel should be heaviest at the sides, they having 

 a greater supply of air, on account of the spaces unavoidably left 

 between the fuel and the walls. Do not 4ire with large lumps. 

 Boilers are often injured by unequal expansion and contraction, 

 caused by a strong fire on one side while there is a draft of cold 

 air through an open door on the other. 



