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Heating, Lighting, and Refrigeration: Sizes

Sizes of Coal. -The large sizes of coal are the most wasteful, as the volatile gases are rarely all driven off and the heart of the large chunks is not usually consumed. The result is a residue of cinders and clinkers that choke up the grate and create a great deal of labor and discomfort. By the use of suitable grates and some care and attention, the smallest sizes of coal (which are also ton for ton much cheaper) may be utilized.

Coal - Small Sizes to Use. - The smallest size of coal in ordinary use is known as "pea coal." This requires a special grate, but after a fire has been kindled in an ordinary grate, and a good bed of coals has been made, pea coal may be used if care is taken not to shake down all the ashes at once. There is a still smaller size known as "buckwheat coal," which is even cheaper than pea coal. This may be used in place of cinders to bank down the fires at night, the advantage being that when coke or larger coal is added to the fire next morning, the buckwheat coal will be entirely consumed, whereas a bank of cinders tends to deaden the fire during the day.