254 



Orr^s Air-tight Stove. — Good Example. 



Vol. VI. 



For the Farmers' Cabinet. 



Orr's Air-tight Stove. 



Mr. Editor, — Having so stionirly recom- 

 meiided the air-tig-ht stove, I thought you 

 would like to be informed that a terrible ex- 

 plosion has taken place in one of them at 

 Nantucket, which demolished the chimney, 

 and threw the bricks and stove all out into 

 the middle of the room. Now I should be 

 glad to know if you still approve of them 1 

 for in this neighbourhood there is considera- 

 ble alarm felt on the subject, and I rather 

 congratulate myself on delaying the purchase 

 of one — which I had intended from your re- 

 commendation — until I hear farther about it. 

 Pray enlighten us, and oblige your subscriber. 



J. Dennis. 



Hearing an account of the explosion, we made it our 

 business to cail on the agent for the sale of the air-tight 

 stove, who informed us he had written to Mr. Abbot, 

 and had received a most satisfactory answer to his in- 

 quiries, wiiich, having since appeared in print, we copy, 

 for tlie information of those wlio have already pur- 

 chased or intend to purchase a stove, that, in our 

 estimation, still continues unrivalled. A moment's 

 reflection will convince any one, that the explosion 

 must have taken place in the chimney and not in the 

 stove, which, weighing a few pounds only, and very 

 easily removed from its position by a single finger, 

 could not have formed a resistance sufficient to throw 

 out brick-work, iron mantel-bar and wood-work, scat- 

 tering all over the room ; but the writer explains all. — 

 Eo. 



" Explosion from an air-tight stove. — As 

 the explosion which occurred from an air-tight 

 stove in the house of the subscriber a few 

 days ago, has excited some interest, I send 

 you, for publication in your paper, if you 

 judge it expedient, the following statement 

 of the facts in the case. 



The stove was a large one, called the four- 

 teen dollar size. It was set by bricking up 

 tlie fire-place, and no ventilator was made. 

 At ten o'clock, the evening before the explo- 

 sion, there being then a glowing fire in the 

 stove, I put in an armful of green walnut 

 wood, and closed entirely both the register 

 and the damper. When I arose the next 

 morning about 6 o'clock, I opened the door 

 of the stove, and could see but little fire, 

 though the wood seemed to be converted al- 

 most to charcoal. I left open the door and 

 the damper perhaps three minutes, when the 

 wood became in a light blaze, and the stove 

 in some parts red hot. The fimnel, where it 

 entered into the brick-work, had, by repeated 

 contractions and expansions, become loose, 

 leaving quite a crack around the funnel 

 through wiiich I could plainly see the flame 

 from the stove entering the chinmey. I then 

 shut the door of the stove, and opened the re- 

 gister, leaving the damper still open. Ob- 



serving, perhaps in a minute, that the fire 

 was much checked, 1 again took hold of the 

 door, and had opened it about half an inch, 

 when, with a loud report, truly a fearful ex- 

 plosion took place, vol in the stove, but in 

 the fire-place behind it .' The brick-work 

 was thrown out clear; the iron mantel-bar 

 torn out, and the wood-work around the man- 

 tel greatly shattered. The stove was driven 

 two or three feet into the room, and much 

 indented by the bricks which were thrown 

 against it. The bricks and mortar were scat- 

 tered all over the room. The explosion was 

 unquestionably caused by gas — probably car- 

 buretted hydrogen, generated in the stove, 

 and collected behind the brick-work in the 

 fire-place. This gas, when mingled with 

 certain proportions of atmospheric air, pos- 

 sesses great explosive power. If there had 

 been a ventilator in the brick-work near the 

 hearth, the collection of this gas, and the con- 

 sequent explosion would probably have been 

 prevented. I have now had my stove re- 

 placed in its former position, with a ventila- 

 tor. I cannot reject a friend I value so high- 

 ly, for a single misdemeanor. 



" John S. C. AsBot." 



Nantucket, Jan. 15, 1842. [Mer. Journal. 



For the Farmers' Cabinet. 



Good Example. 



Mr. Editor, — Twelve years since, I resi- 

 ded in a district of country which enjoyed su- 

 perior agricultural advantages in respect to 

 soil, climate, water and wood, and a conve- 

 nience to the best of markets; still there was 

 a perceptible want, throughout, of enterprise 

 and prosperity among the farmers. Of corn, 

 the average crop seldom exceeded 20 bushels 

 per acre, and that of every other kind of grain 

 was in proportion. Wheat, however, they 

 would seldom attempt to raise, unless upon 

 new land, or that which had been fiivoured 

 by a scanty supply of manure which their 

 barn-yards annually affiirded. Their farms 

 appeared in a slovenly condition, and the se- 

 veral kinds of work were indifferently and 

 unseasonably performed. Their cattle and 

 sheep were entirely destitute of shelter, and 

 left at all seasons exposed to the peltings of 

 the pitiless storm — their houses and out- 

 buildings were, in general, very ordinary, and 

 many of them old and much dilapidated. The 

 best fitrms in that neighbourhood, had they 

 been exposed to sale at that time, could have 

 been purchased for less than $40 per acre. 

 But "a change came o'er the spirit of my 

 dream." At this day, that same neighbour- 

 hood is widely reputed for its excellent farm- 

 ers, its productive soil, and abundant crops, 

 of which wheal is now the principal, and 

 generally yields from 25 to 30 bushels, fre- 



