53t 



THE rUACTlCAL GARDEN EH, 



tlio house, or even partly within it under tlic floor, instead of 

 building it some feet behind the house, where much of the heat 

 must of course be lost, both in the thickness of the building 

 that surrounds the furnace, and a great part will evaporate into 

 the sheds behind, and be entirely lost to the house. This 

 might be dangerous if large furnaces were used ; but the supe- 

 riority of small ones is now sufliciently proved, that few are 

 built of that size, that are at all likely to be attended with 

 danger from bursting. Indeed, it is now fully acknowledged, 

 that it is better to have two, or even three separate furnaces 

 to a large house, than one very large one. 



We consider it as very important to have the grate or bottom 

 of tlie furnace placed one foot at least below the level of the 

 bottom of the flue, to create what is practically called a draug/if, 

 or the circulation of the healed air and smoke, by allowing it 

 to ascend a little immediately after leaving the furnace. 'I'he 

 chief fault of badly drawinfr flues proceeds more from a want of 

 this precaution than from any other cause we know of. It 

 often happens, that if the furnaces be sunk to gain a suflicient 

 draught, that water, from the nature of the situation, becomes 

 troublesome ; but this should be effectually remedied by having 

 a sufficient drain laid to the bottom of the furnace, to keep it 

 perfectly dry. Without this precaution, we have often known 

 much inconvenience to arise. Whether the furnace be placed 

 in a shed behind or not, it is necessary to have a sj)ace on 

 each side of the furnace, for the purpose of holding fuel and 

 the ashes, until they can be removed ; or if they be daily car- 

 ried off', which is the better way, one space should be used for 

 coal, the other for cinders, so that the operator can mix them 

 in such proportions as the state of the fires may rcfpiire. 

 These spaces on each side of the furnace may be arched and 

 covered 'Over (if not in the back sheds), and the remaining 

 s})ace opposite the furnace, which is generally used as the 

 means of descending to it, may be provided with a door to shut 

 down, when the fires are not used, so as to give a neat and 

 orderly appearance to the whole. 



Where the appearance of small sheds is not objectionable, 

 should they not be recpiired for any other purpose, they will be 

 found necessary appendages over each furnace, both for tlie 



