GRASSE, LA, an arrondissement of the department of the Var, in France, extending over 506 square miles. It is divided into seven cantons, and sixty-three communes, and contains 56,818 inhabitants. The capital is a city of the same name, situated on the declivity of a hill, in a district which abounds in citrons, oranges, lemons, figs, and pomegranates, and in flowers used by the perfumers. It contains 2000 houses, and 12,620 inhabitants, who are much occupied in preparing liqueurs, perfumery, scented soaps, and confectionery. Near it much marble and alabaster is found. Long. 6. 50. 40. E. Lat. 43. 39. 19. N.
GRATES FOR FIRES are composed of ribs of iron placed at small distances from one another, so that the air may have sufficient access to the fuel, and the accumulation of the ashes, which would choke the fire, may be prevented. Grates seem peculiarly adapted to the use of pit-coal, which requires a greater quantity of air to make it burn freely than other kinds of fuel.
The hearths of the Britons seem to have been fixed in the centre of their halls, as is yet practised in some parts of Scotland, where the fire is nearly in the middle of the house, and the family all sit around it. Their fire-place was perhaps nothing more than a large stone, depressed a little below the level of the ground, and thereby adapted to receive the ashes. About a century ago, the fire-place was on the floor of the room, with the addition of a bank or hob of clay. But amongst gentlemen this was changed for a portable fire-pan, raised upon low supporters, and fitted with a circular grating of bars.