164 Of the Management of Fire 



of air to pass horizontally into the fire-place. A small 

 proportion of air admitted in this manner has been found 

 to be useful, and even necessary, in fire-places in which, 

 in order to consume the smoke, the flame is made to 

 descend. Several small holes for this purpose, fitted with 

 conical stoppers, may be made in different parts of the 

 front wall of the fire-place. 



The bottom of the fire-place is a grate constructed 

 of bricks placed edgewise, and under this grate there is 

 an ash-pit; but, as no air must be permitted to pass up 

 through this grate into the fire-place, the ash-pit door, 

 c, is kept constantly closed, being only opened occasion- 

 ally to remove the ashes. 



d is the opening by which the lime is taken out of 

 the kiln ; which opening must be kept well closed, in 

 order to prevent a draught of cold air through the kiln. 



As only as much lime must be removed at once as 

 is contained in that part of the kiln which lies below 

 the level of the bottom of the fire-place, to be able to 

 ascertain when the proper quantity is taken away, the 

 lime as it comes out of the kiln may be directed into 

 a pit sunk in the ground in front of the opening by 

 which the lime is removed, this pit being made of 

 proper size to serve as a measure. 



While the lime is removing from the bottom of the 

 kiln, fresh limestone should be put into it above ; and 

 during this operation the fire may be damped by closing 

 the top of the fire-place with its iron plate. 



Should it be found necessary, the fire and the distri- 

 bution of the heat may, in burning the lime, be farther 

 regulated by closing more or less the opening at the 

 top of the lime-kiln with a flat piece of fire-stone, or a 

 plate of cast iron. 



