and of Rural Improvement generally, during 1838. 557 



of it for the public. The stove consists of two parts : a firepot, 

 or firebox, made of fire-brick or fire-stone, with a grating in the 

 bottom, in which the fuel is consumed; and an iron case enclos- 

 ing the firepot, but at the distance of some inches from it on 

 every side. The process of combustion is carried on in the fire- 

 pot, the sides of which being nonconductors, the fuel is tho- 

 roughly consumed. The smoke and other products rise into the 

 body of the stove, give out their heat through its sides and 

 top, and escape by a small pipe to the nearest chimney. The 

 progress of combustion is regulated by a thermometer, or by an 

 expansion rod, in such a manner, as that no more fire is pro- 

 duced, than is sufficient to raise the casing of the stove to the 

 temperature of boiling water. 



The characteristic of Arnott's stove then is, that the supply of 

 air to support combustion is regulated with the greatest nicety by 

 a thermometer or expansion rod ; or, where the greatest degree 

 of nicety is not required, by a valve connected with a screw, 

 which can be adjusted by hand at pleasure, so as to burn the 

 fuel with greater or less rapidity, according to the quantity of 

 heat required to be produced. There can be no doubt that 

 when this stove is. properly constructed, and more especially 

 when there is an ample space allowed between the firebox and 

 iron casing, in order to allow the products of combustion to give 

 out their heat before escaping by the chimney pipe; it will pro- 

 duce more heat from a given quantity of fuel than any other stove 

 at present in use, except that of Mr. Joyce. For this reason, and 

 because, if properly managed, it will never raise the temperature of 

 the case much above that of boiling water, we think it particularly 

 well adapted for small green-houses and plant-cabinets, where the 

 object is to do little more than keep out the frost; and we have 

 shown in our Suburban Gardener (p. 688. fig. 295.) how it may be 

 formed into a small hot-water apparatus, in order to insure a moist 

 heat. For heating dwelling-houses, howevei", this stove has the 

 great disadvantage of providing no means for ventilation. For all 

 carefully constructed apartments, therefore, it is totally unfit, 

 unless some efficient means for ventilation be put in operation 

 along with it; but, though such means have been described 

 by Dr. Arnott in his book, and attempted in various ways, 

 and by various persons, we have not seen or heard of a single 

 instance in which the result has been successful. For im- 

 perfectly constructed houses, in which the joints of every door 

 and window are thoroughfares for the weather; and especially 

 for old roomy cottages, this stove is admirably adapted, because 

 if anthracite coal is used, it requires very little attention, and 

 burns very little fuel. It is a remarkable fact, that the inventor 

 of this stove, though a scientific man, and well acquainted, as his 

 writings show, with pneumatics and every other branch of na- 



