[Illustration: Figure 25.--_A_, A fireplace at Mount Vernon, Washington's home, typical of those used before cooking stoves were introduced. This type of fireplace, if not too large, is often retained (_B_) when a kitchen is remodeled into a living room. Note the Dutch oven at the right, formerly used for baking.] [Illustration: Figure 26.--Fireplaces originally intended for wood were frequently bricked up, and small cast-iron units of this type were built in, since the large openings required for wood were wasteful when coal was used. This was a very popular type of grate for hotel and private bedrooms about 1860 and can still be seen in old houses in coal regions. Note the plain and neat mantel of wide plank.] In general, the wider the opening the greater should be the depth. A shallow opening throws out relatively more heat than a deep one of the same width but accommodates smaller pieces of wood; thus it becomes a question of preference between a greater depth which permits the use of large logs that burn longer and a shallower depth (fig. 28, _A_ and _B_) which takes smaller-sized wood but throws out more heat. In small fireplaces a depth of 12 inches will permit good draft if the throat is constructed as explained above, but a minimum depth of 16 to 18 inches is advised to lessen the danger of brands falling out on the floor. As a rule, fireplaces on the second floor are smaller than those on the first floor and it is well to follow this practice because the flue height is less for second floor fireplaces (fig. 29). Unless a fireplace 6 feet wide is fully 28 inches deep, the logs will have to be split, and some advantage of the wide opening will be lost. Screens of suitable design should be placed in front of all fireplaces (fig. 30). [Illustration: Figure 27.--This inexpensive fireplace 32 inches square shows how a plain brick front can be used in a small room.] A fireplace 30 to 36 inches wide is generally suitable for a room having 300 square feet of floor (fig. 31). The width should be increased for larger rooms, but all other dimensions should be taken from table 3 for the width selected. The corner of a room often is the favorite location for a fireplace (fig. 32). Fireplaces of the type shown in figure 28 are also built in corners. [Illustration: Figure 28.--A, A shallow fireplace, with a copper hood, built as shown in B, throws out considerable heat after the hood gets hot. The wall should be of fire-resistant masonry.] [Illustration: Figure 29.--This shallow fireplace with a sloping back is a type that was frequently built in bedrooms before the general use of stoves. Note the neat and well-proportioned mantel.] [Illustration: Figure 30.--Screens are almost essential to protect the upholstery of nearby furniture from sparks. This fireplace shows artistic use of small stones and makes a pleasing contrast with the log walls.] Units providing for burning gas are often built in to resemble fireplaces (fig. 33).