THE ASH PIT.
In burning coal it is exceedingly important that the ashes be kept cleaned out, as the hot cinders falling down on the heap of ashes almost as high as the grate will overheat the grate in a very short time and warp it all out of shape, so ruining it.
With wood and straw, on the contrary, an accumulation of ashes will often help and will seldom do any harm, because no very hot cinders can drop down below the grates, and the hottest part of the fire is some distance above the grates.