FIRING WITH STRAW.
In firing with straw it is important to keep the shute full of straw all the time so that no cold air can get in on top of the fire. Don’t push the straw in too fast, either, but keep it moving at a uniform rate, with small forkfulls. Now and then it is well to turn the fork over and run it down into the fire to keep the fire level. Ashes may be allowed to fill up in rear of ash box, but fifteen inches should be kept clear in front to provide draft. The brick arch may be watched from the side opening in the firebox, and should show a continuous stream of white flame coming over it. If too much straw is forced in, that will check the flame. The flame should never be checked. If damp straw gets against the ends of the flues, it should be scraped off with the poker from side door. Clean the tubes well once a day. The draft must always be kept strong enough to produce a white heat, and if this cannot be done otherwise, a smaller nozzle may be used on the exhaust pipe; but this should be avoided when possible, since it causes back pressure on the engine. Never let the front end of the boiler stand on low ground. Engine should be level, or front end high, if it has a firebox locomotive boiler; if a return flue boiler, be careful to keep it always level. In burning straw take particular notice that the spark screen in stack does not get filled up.