FoodNet

A manual of home-making

1919

Page 61

Presented as published in 1919. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
If a new kitchen is to be built, a separate ventilating tlue may be provided in addition to the smoke floe. Tbis ventiiatinR flue, provided with a register inlet about four feet above the stove t^p, will relieve the kitchen of odors and of excessive heat, especially if a projecting metal hood Is fastened over the range for collecting the risijig air The stove or ranjr;e requires more care and makes more dirt than any other feature in live kitcJien. Fuel must Ik* brought in and ashes must be removed. Whatever can be done to simplify the incoming and the outgoing of fuel will make for cleanliness and for economy of lal»or, A generous temporary supply may be stored either in a separate fuel compartment next to the kitchen, or in a fuel box fitted with a double-hinged cover and built into the wall in such a way that it may be filled from without and emptied from within. The actual arrangement in any case will liefiend on whether wooil or coal is burned and wliether the main supply may lie stored in or near the house. A.shes may be emptied directly into an air-tight metal can in the cellar. This is an easier and cleaner method than removing them Vjy hantL A can of a size that one man can handle easily will probably not ne<*d to l>e emptied oftener than once a week. Many of the newer ranges are already equipped for this method of aslwlisposal, l>yt any stove may be so arranged if tliere is a caieful workman at hand* The a.sli pan should first be removed from the stove and a rotmd hole cut through the bottom of the ash compartment and through the floor lx*low; a stovepipe is then pa«*sed through these holes and is flanged over the bottom of the ash pit of the stove. Two precautions must Ije observed in this piece of work: firsts the stovepipe which is to lead the ashes into the cellar can must tie provided with a damper near the stove, in order to prevent an upward draught of air from burning out the fire; second, a free air space of at least two inches mui^t l>e allowed all around the pipe where it passes tlu*uugb the floor, consequently the floor hole must be cut at I I I I I PLANMNG THE HOME KITCHEN 109 least four inches larger than the pipe. This open space may be filled with concrete or covered with an ordinary metal collar. Measures should also be taken to make the ash can perfectly safe. A container of hot a^hes in a place not frequently visitedj such a.s the cellar^ may prove a source of fianger unless it is surrotmded by a wire cage or in soTue way protected so that rub- bishy paper, kindling, or other combustible material can never be thrown directly against it. Sink and drain-boards,