A moderate-sized French table-lamp, will consume a quarter of a pint of oil in twelve hours and a half.
A common japanned kitchen-lamp, with one burner, will consume one-eighth of a pint of oil in nine hours.
828. Neats'-foot Oil.—Boil the feet for several hours, as for making stock for jelly; skim off the oily matter from time to time as it rises, and, when it ceases to come up, pour off the water; next day, take off the cake of fat and oil which will be found on the top; boil it and the oil before obtained, together with a little cold water; let it cool; pour off the water, and bottle the oil for use. This oil being perfectly pure, and free from smell, may be used with the French lights in a sick-room.
829. Soap.—Soap, as well as candles, is improved by keeping. Buy your store for the winter as early as September, and cut the large bars of soap into pieces, to dry. It goes farther, and is better.
830. Coals.—Lay in your stock of coal and wood, during summer, when fuel of all kinds is cheapest.
831. Good method of making Fires.—In managing your fires during the day, first lay on a shovelful of the dust and ashes from under the grate, then a few coals, then more ashes, and afterwards a few more coals, and thus proceed till your grate is properly filled, placing a few round coals in front. You will find that the ashes retain the heat better than coals alone; you will have less smoke, a pleasant fire, and a very little waste left at night.