Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1869-12-03
TIMELY Esy.vTS O.v' TIE ESE OF
CO.Fk.

As many in this region are beginning to
use coal, and are not acquainted with the
manner of using it in their stoves, the fol-
lowing statements taken from the Scientif-
ic American may be found useful:
A common fault is to use too coarse wood
for l<indling, and too much of it, This,
while it generally succeeds in lighting the
coal, leaves bed of ashes below the coal
which interieres with the draft unless raked
out; an operation which always retards
the combustion OF partially ignted coal.
Tho wood should be of some rapidly burn
ing variety which gives a quick and high
heat and should be split fine. 1t should be
so placed that the coal remains on top of it
and docs not fall through to the CRATE, loav-
ing the llindling on any part of the coal
The amount Of kindling required depends
much upon the size of the coal. A com
mon mistake is 10 use too large coal.
good rule, where stoves or furnaces have
good draft is to use coal as fine as can be
used without inconvenience from its sitting
too freely through the crate.
Crates should have their bars set closely,
for stoves that are cleaned out daily, and
have fires lighted in them every morning,
while those which are intended to have fire
kept in them constantly for days or weeks
will not admit of fine CRATES, on account of
the accumulation of ashes and small
"clinkcrs." There is much difference in
regard to the formation of clinkers. These
are nothing but vitried, or partially so,
and only can form when n high heat is
maintained they are apt to be troublesome
when there is too great draft. A coal
stove or furnace, should therefore be so
constructed that its draft can be perfectly
controlled. The bottom draft should adj
NIT of being closed air tight rs near as is
possible to make it, and there ought always
to be provision made for top draft. If,
| however, the draft of chimney should be
so strong that air in too great quantities is
drawn in at the bottom when the hampers
are closed, damper in the pipe which will
close it partially must be employed, though
in sluggish chimneys such damper is apt
to force the gas of combustion into the
room, and therefore ought always to be a.
voidcd when possible.
The practice of putting ashes on the top
of fire to keep it is very productive of
| cllnkers, although 1t answers the purpose
well in other Respects. Damp coal screen
ings are better, and may be economically
burned in this manner. If a coal fire gets
very low, the quickest way to extinguish
it is to rake at the bottom. To preserve
fire under such circums stances, little coal
should be placed ON the fire, and when it
has caught more may be added, and the
raking deferred till it has got well ignited.
When the bricks have become burdened
with clinkers which have efIusod and adj
hered they may be cleaned by throwing
oyster or clam shells into the fire box when
the fire is very hot and allow it to go out.
The clinkers will generally cleave Off with
out use of much force the next morning.
From two quarts to half a peck will be
sufficient for most stoves, and the operation
can be repeated if some of the clnkors
still adhere.