REPORT OF THE FARMERS' CLUB. 53 



cause it to be offered at such very low prices that extraordinary 

 efforts have been made to use it for heating as well as for illumi- 

 nating purposes. Were it not for the disagreeable odor and the 

 smoke which result from its combustion, it would afford a cheap 

 substitute for the spirit lamp in chemical laboratories, and for gas 

 in culinary operations; indeed, its very low cost would probably 

 cause it to be used to a large extent for cooking in summer, in 

 place of wood and coal. Many plans have been suggested for pro- 

 ducing so perfect combustion of rock oil that no smoke would be 

 emitted, but, so far as we are aware, none of these has been entirely 

 successful — at all events, in its application to heating purposes. 

 By the plan which we here illustrate the inventor claims the com- 

 bustion to be absolutely perfect, so that not a particle of uncon- 

 sumed smoke is left. 



It consists simply in placing a metal chimney over the flame ; 

 and to avoid the great waste of heat which would occur from radi- 

 ation from the walls of the chimney, the chimney is carried through 

 the vessel to be heated. The engravings represent the plan as 

 applied to a tea and coffee boiler, Fig. 1, and to a nursery lamp. 

 Fig. 2 ; a section of the latter being shown in Fig. 3. A is the 

 lamp, B the chimney, and C the vessel of water surrounding the 

 chimney. g represents a porcelain cup which may be placed 

 within the receiver and used for keeping food warm through the 

 night. A hole is made in the side of the chimney, on a level with 

 the flame, and filled with a plate of mica, d, through which the flame 

 may be observed in adjusting its height to give us the amount of 

 heat required. As a considerable portion of the heat passes up 

 through the chimney, arrangements are made te utilize this heat, 

 which would otherwise be lost. Accordingly, a light iron stand, 

 as seen in Figs. 1 and 2, is constructed to support a vessel of 

 water, or any other cooking dish, directly over the top of the 

 chimney. The inventor says that he has fried meat in the nicest 

 manner by placing a frying pan on this stand. 



