December, 1911 
jack-straw fashion, in order that the flame 
may draw through it quickly, and ignite the 
large sticks of wood if it is to be simply a 
temporary wood fire, or the coal if it is to 
start a permanent range fire. 
T is usually customary to allow the kind- 
lings and the larger pieces of wood to be- 
come well burned to glowing red before 
putting on the coal. A better plan is to 
place a loose layer of coal on the wood, in 
such a manner as not to pack down the 
kindlings, that should be crossed and lodged 
so that the blaze from the paper can draw 
through with a quick strong draft. When 
carefully laid, close the upper covers of the 
range, open the necessary damper and un- 
der doors, light the paper from beneath, and 
when the kindlings have burned away and 
the heavier pieces of wood and the thin 
layer of coal are bright and glowing, add 
more coal, a little at a time, until the fire 
is well established and several inches thick. 
GOOD HEAT, AND. COAL ECONOMY. 
HEN well started, a good range fire 
should continue from day to day 
without rekindling, and with a certainty of 
good heat and little waste of coal. It is 
important that the fire should be evenly 
established over the entire grate, as a one- 
sided fire with a good depth of bright coals 
in the front of the grate, and a bank of 
dead ashes at the back, will be not only 
hard to manage, but unsatisfactory in the 
cooking and baking processes. A _long- 
handled poker is an important accessory; 
one that will reach to the back of the grate 
when poked in at the front. This should 
be used “flat,” when it is necessary to stir 
the fire gently into renewed activity. In 
other words, instead of inserting the poker 
point side up, into the mass of partially 
dormant coal and cinders, and giving a 
vigorous shaking, that will bring the coals 
down into the ash pan, simply use the poker 
sidewise, with point flat on the grate; push 
it back to the extreme end of the grate, 
and withdraw it once or twice to loosen 
and remove the fine ashes from beneath, 
without disturbing the coal. This will pro- 
duce sufficient draft, with the door damper 
and the flue damper open, to start the tiny 
blue flames through the dormant fire that 
will result in a clear, bright fire over the 
entire grate in a few moments after open- 
ing the dampers. Thin layers of fresh coal 
over this glowing surface should be added 
as required, during the cooking and the 
baking. This is more satisfactory than a 
thick layer of coal at the start, that will 
require a long wait before the fire is bright 
enough to use. After this brisk burning, 
when it is again necessary to bank the 
fire for keeping it partially dormant, do 
not attempt to bank it with fresh coal on 
a well burned ash-covered surface. First 
put on a layer of coal to become thoroughly 
ignited, and while clear and bright, before 
it has had time to waste its heat, bank with 
another layer of coal, close all drafts and 
open the check draft, or partially remove 
one of the top covers of the range, to keep 
it dormant until another gentle stirring 
from the bottom and opening of dampers 
calls it into renewed vigor. The ashes 
should be removed and the ash pan emptied 
every morning to prevent burning out the 
grate, and to insure good drafts from 
beneath. 
TO INSURE GOOD BAKING. 
HILE the broiling, stewing, boiling, 
and frying on the top of the range 
will present few difficulties to the house- 
wife when the making and the economical 
keeping of the fire is understood, the man- 
agement of the oven frequently presents 
many difficulties. The important point of 
AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 
keeping the top of the oven free from 
ashes should not be overlooked. Remove 
the upper covers of the range at least twice 
a week and give the top of the oven a 
good brushing, with a broad flat brush kept 
for this purpose. Then (a point too fre- 
quently overlooked), clean the oven from 
beneath. A narrow opening will be found 
directly beneath the oven with a little 
hinged door, or a narrow cap to be re- 
moved, for inserting a long-handled cleaner 
or scraper that comes with the range for 
this purpose. Scrape away all the accumu- 
lation of soot and fine ashes, and the brisk- 
ness of oven heat that results will well 
repay for the extra trouble. When the 
oven is clean within, as well as underneath 
and on top, the special oven damper must 
be opened to insure good heating, and even, 
dependable temperature throughout the 
baking. Then with a good clear fire in the 
grate, the oven heat may be regulated en- 
tirely from the damper. After finishing 
the baking and the roasting, close the oven 
damper; as the heat thus thrown into the 
oven checks the direct draft into the flue, 
there is an unnecessary waste of coal in 
forcing the fire to keep the oven hot when 
not in use. 
TO PREVENT CLINKERS. 
We. clinkers are allowed to form 
and choke the fire, it becomes difficult 
to retain an even depth of bright coals. 
The fire becomes ash-clogged and “sulky,” 
and it is necessary to clean out the entire 
grate and start a new fire, when this task 
might be readily avoided by a little care 
in preventing the formation of the mass of 
hardened coal and ash known as a clinker. 
Shaking down the fire unnecessarily will 
often form the clinkers, when a careful 
loosening of the ashes would keep the fire 
free and open. Some qualities of coal are 
more apt to “clinker” than others; but 
whether the fault lies in the coal or its 
management, one of the simplest devices 
for preventing the formation of the ob- 
struction is to throw a few oyster shells 
into the fire while it is burning brightly. 
The lime in the shells dissolves the min- 
erals in the coal which form the clinkers. 
It will not be necessary to keep a large 
quantity of shells on hand, or to use them 
often, but it is a wise economy to save the 
shells that accumulate during the Winter, 
when these bivalves appear frequently on 
the home bill of fare. One or two shells 
laid on the coals when the fire has been 
forced and the hot coals and ashes seem in- 
clined to clinker in the bottom of the grate 
will prevent the difficulty. When the com- 
pact bed of coals and the bottom of the 
grate is kept free from the clinkers, they 
sometimes form on the sides of the fire- 
box, and the firebrick will be injured if 
they are knocked off carelessly. The burn- 
ing of the shells before attempting to re- 
move them will soften them so that they 
can be rubbed off with the poker without 
breaking the lining of the firebox. 
IMPORTANT DETAILS. 
HE range should be so well managed 
that all the heat needed can be secured 
without having the top red hot, as this will 
warp the centers and covers. When the 
top of the stove becomes very hot on iron- 
ing day, or in the preparation of the meals, 
special care must be taken that no cold 
water is spilled upon it, or the water in 
contact with the intense heat may cause 
the iron to crack. 
T is important to have the range bright 
and clean at all times, but laborious daily 
polishing is not necessary. A handful of 
crumpled newspaper rubbed briskly over 
the entire surface after each meal, especially 
Add to your own 
pleasure this year by present- 
ing a gift that conveys the 
value of intrinsic merit as 
well as the thought of per- 
sonal sentiment. 
GlobeWernicke 
Sectional Bookcases 
in Sheraton and other art styles of 
real mahogany and beautifully fig- 
ured oak are always acceptable as 
holiday gifts, being as decorative as they 
are useful in the home. 
Att catalogue containing many clever 
suggestions for Individual Christmas 
Libraries mailed on request. Also copy 
of Hamilton W. Mabie’s new booklet 
“‘The Blue Book of Fiction.’’ Such 
publications will help you solve the 
holiday problem. Prompt Shipments 
and Freight Prepaid Everywhere. 
Address Dept. A.H. 
She Globe“Wernicke Co., 
Cincinnati 
Branch Stores: 
New York, 380-382 Broadway Boston, 91-93 Federal St. 
Philadelphia, 1012-1014 Chestnut Street 
Washington, 1218-1220 F. Street, N. W. 
Chicago, 231-235 So. Wabash Avenue 
Cincinnati, 128-134 Fourth Avenue, East 
AOL Sh EN RS 
ory 
i; 
fombanenaitt 
tomsh ha Aichat tara 
Oriental Rugs and Carpets) 
@ A December offering of Persian 
and Caucasian Rugs especially 
| suitable for gift purposes. 
1@ Authentic specimens of new 
| and old weaves. 
@ Guaranteed as to color and 
| quality. 
@ Call or write for information re- 
garding sizes, qualities, prices, etc. 
John W. Graham & Co. 
1710 Chestnut St., Philadelphia, Pa. 
