Gas as Kindling. — Where gas is burned in the kitchen or in the cellar it may be used conveniently to kindle fires in the range or furnace. A gas burner may be obtained for a few cents and connected with a neighbor ing gas jet by a length of flexible gas pipe. The whole equipment should cost less than a dollar. After the fuel has been laid the burner may be lit and inserted below the grate as near to the coal as possible. This kindles the fire surely, quickly, and econom ically, and avoids the trouble of pro viding other kindling and the litter of handling and cleaning it up. This method will kindle any fire where the grate can be reached from bellow.
Matches.—Have a match box near the range attached to a piece of sand paper and put the matches in the box head down. Then you will always know which end to strike. Have a separate receptacle for burnt matches.
To Quicken Low Pires.—When a coal fire burns low, throw a table spoonful of salt on the coals. Or put in an old ham or shoulder bone from which the meat has been taken. This burns a long time and with great heat. Or use old corks and empty spools for this purpose.
To Make Kindlings.—To make kin dlings for home use or for sale, obtain a quantity of clean fine sawdust free from all moisture. Prepare a smooth, flat surface of boards by tacking them close together across a pair of carpen ter's horses and spread a layer of saw dust over them. Dissolve in a large set kettle any quantity of resin and tallow, in the proportion of 3 ounces of tallow to 1 pound of resin, and stir in sawdust of pine or other resinous wood to make the mixture as thick as possible. Spread this while hot upon the boards, smoothing it across the top by pressing a board upon it, and if desired mark it off into squares with a straightedge. When dry these squares can be broken apart and used for kindling fires, or sold at a profit.
Or melt 1 quart of tar in 5 pounds of resin, stir, and remove from the fire. While cooling add pint spirits of turpentine and stir in sawdust from pine or other resinous wood, with or without finely powdered charcoal. While hot spread out on boards cov ered with a layer of sawdust, and when cold break up into small lumps for home use or sale.
Range Fire — To Save Coal. — To economize coal in the kitchen range, keep the draughts closed when special heat is not required for cooking, iron ing, and the like. Do not try to keep the fire box banked full of burning coals merely to keep up the fire. After any special cooking is finished, rake out the ashes lightly from below and sprinkle fresh coal evenly over the hot fire with a shovel. Keep the draughts closed unless gas escapes into the room. In that case, open them until blue flames dart across the coals. This is a signal that the gas has been ignited. The draughts may then be closed and the dampers opened. If the draught is strong the stove covers may be tilted slightly. Thus managed a range fire will keep for many hours and consume but little coal. When heat is required close the dampers and open the hearth draught, and the fire will start up quickly.
To Shake and Clean a Range Fire. —Keep ashes from the edges of the fire box and the center will take care of itself. Never shake or clean a fire unless it actually needs it. If there is a bed of live coals under the fresh, black coal leave it alone. shake down the fire at night and clean out the ashes in the morning is sufficient, unless additional heat is required for a special purpose.
Care of Furnace Fire.—Keep the coal piled up in the center and lower at the sides. If the coal banks up at the sides, leaving a hole at the heart of the fire, it gradually cools and dies. Shake down the furnace thoroughly at night, remove the ashes, add fresh coal, and leave the draught open until blue flames are seen darting across the coal. This is necessary to avoid gas escaping and filling the house. The fire will not require additional shaking except in the coldest weather.
Coal for Range and Furnace.—The smallest size of coal that the grate will admit will give the most satisfac tory results. By kindling range or furnace fires with coke, thus forming a bed of coals across the grate, pea coal may be burned. This is the cheapest fuel and lasts the longest. Next to this chestnut coal is the most economical.
To Bank Range and Furnace Fires. —Do not bank fires with ashes or cin ders. Use buckwheat or pea coal for this purpose, or buy a ton of screen ings. Shake down the fire, fill the fire box with fresh coal, allow it to come up, and sprinkle on top a layer of fine coal or screenings. This banks the fire night and day, and gives an even, continuous heat.
Or use the dust and broken coal that accumulates in the bottom of the coal bin.
Fuel Economies.—Use the ash pan of an old-fashioned base burner in which to cook Boston baked beans, Indian pudding, and the like. Clean out the ash pan and cover the dish containing the food with a granite iron kettle, or otherwise, so that the ashes from above cannot get into it. These articles require long, slow cook ing, and this plan saves keeping two fires all day.
Or a fire may be kept in a common stove for several hours when required for this purpose by lighting the fire on one side only and thus saving about half the fuel.
To Burn Old Papers.— Twist and roll them up in small rolls and lay them lengthwise on the grate. Thus they will burn slowly, like logs, with out flaming up.
To Prevent Clinkers.—Clinkers are formed by earthy substances, which ordinarily fall through the grate as ashes, becoming melted and vitrified by excessive heat. Hence, to prevent clinkers, control the draught, bank the fire, and do not allow it to rage.
To Remove Clinkers.—If the grate and walls of the fire box become cov ered with melted clinkers, throw oyster or clam shells on the bed of hot coals and allow the fire to go out. This will weaken the clinkers so that they can be easily removed. Repeat if nec essary. Use 1 or 2 quarts of shells for a range, or a peck or half a bushel for a furnace. Or sprinkle salt on the clinkers to loosen them.