To Make and Manage a Coal Fire

Prepare the range the same as for a wood fire. Put into the fire box several pieces of thick kindling wood, laying them across the bars of the grate a short distance apart. On these place the shavings or paper as before, letting them protrude through the bars of the grate, so that they can be lighted from below. On these place the small and the large sticks, as before, until the fire box is nearly filled, then sprinkle on a shovelful of coal, and light. Add a little coal, as needed, until a nice bed of red coals is formed, then fill the fire box with coal nearly to the top of the fire bricks. Under no circumstances fill it fuller than this, because there is nothing gained by having the top of the range red hot, and it chokes the draft, wastes the fuel, and warps the top of the stove. Leave the drafts open until the surface of the fire is covered with blue flames, then close the drafts to hold a steady fire. Do not allow the coal to burn until it is red, as the fire has then reached its climax, and will soon begin to die out unless more coal is added; neither is it wise to allow it to burn low. If you wish to keep a brisk fire all day, add a sprinkle of coal now and then, as needed, and you will not have to wait for a fire to burn.

When you wish to hold the fire from one meal until the next, after the blue flame appears, partially remove one or more of the covers, and close the drafts. If the gas escapes, adjust them so as to prevent this, opening them a little later, if necessary. When ready to use the fire, put on the covers, and open the drafts until it again burns brightly. If the fire has rested thus at night, get the breakfast and then put on a shovelful of coal and let the fire burn until after breakfast; then empty the ashes into the sifter, replace the ash pan, open the ash damper, and rake the fire until free from ashes. Always rake it from below, using a long straight poker which will pass between the bars of the grate in front, thus lifting the bed of coals and allowing the ashes to drop through into the ash pan. This also brings the clinkers up where they can be removed. Close the ash damper, sprinkle a little coal over the top, put on the covers, and open the oven damper, When this burns, put on coal nearly to the top of the fire bricks, and when the blue flame appears close the damper.

Double Boiler. - Showing height of water

References: Johnson's Encyclopedia, p. 356; School Kitchen Text Book - Lincoln - pp. 2 to 10; Elements of Cookery - Williams & Fisher - 7-23.

Plan for Large Farm Kitchen. A - China closet between dining room and kitchen. B - Closet for kitchen utensils, tinware, etc. C - Movable table. D - Draining boards. E - Sink; if there is water in house. F - Range

China Closet