MANAGEMENT OF FURNACES. 



49 



for this is often the cause of flues bursting. When coals are thrown 

 beyond the fire after it has burnt low and the flue is hot, the heat of the 

 brick work distils gas out of the coals ; this gas gets into the flue, and when 

 the fuel over the fire becomes inflamed, if the flame be drawn into the flue, 

 it ignites the gas that has been there generated, and causes an explosion ; 

 this ought to be particularly attended to, as an explosion of gas in the 

 flue may destroy a valuable collection of plants in a moment. 



There is also another circumstance, which renders it desirable to attend 

 to the manner of supplying the fire with fuel. If the fresh fuel be 

 thrown over the surface of a hot fire, it produces an immense volume of 

 smoke and blacks. But on the contrary, when the fuel is added carefully 

 at the front of the fire in the manner before described ; then much of the 

 smoke given out by it is consumed in passing over the hot part of the 

 fire. 



" Besides the management of the ash pit register, the damper of the flue 

 ought to be particularly attended to, by not opening it ftirther than is 

 absolutely necessary for the combustion of the fuel. The more the damper 

 can be closed, provided the fire wiU bum moderately weU, the more heat 

 will be retained in the flue, without escaping up the chimney, and the less 

 fuel will be consumed ; and when the fire is made up for the last time in 

 an evening, the damper should be put in as far as it can be, so as only just 

 to keep the fire alive, and in general the fire may be allowed to burn 

 bright against the last attendance in an evening ; and then, instead of 

 putting on ft*esh fuel, close the ash pit and damper completely. This will 

 prevent any draught of cold air through the flues canying the heat out 

 at the chimney ; the body of heat that is in the mass of brick work of 

 the flues, having then no other means of escape but into the house, wiU 

 frequently be found sufficient for the night. 



The ash pit register should be properly attended to, and never suffered 

 to get injured with rust ; not even in the summer time, when not in use. 

 The door should then be taken off the hooks and properly cleaned, and 

 rubbed with oil to prevent rust. 



"The shovel used for the fire places should have a short handle, which 

 is as convenient for use as a long one, and with a short handled shovel 

 the fuel cannot be so easily tin-own over the fire. The person who 

 attends the fires should be directed to use his hands in opening and 

 shutting the doors by then' proper handles, and not suffered to do so with 

 a spade or shovel, for however strong they may be made, they must 

 soon be destroyed by improper usage. 



" It is of the greatest importance to preserve the doors and ash pits 



E 



