THE FEAB-BOOK OF A.GBICTJLTUBB, 



Ventilating Flour Barrel. 



The annexed engrajvinga represent an improvement in flour barrels, recently patented by 

 Thomas Pearsal, of Smithboro', New York. Fig. 2 represents a vertical section through the 

 centre of the ban-el, showing the ventilating tube. 



It is well known that all commodities containing in themselves the constituents necessary 

 to produce fermentation will, when closely packed in hulks of sufficient size to prevent the 

 air from penetrating them, sooner or later generate heat at the centre, which gradually 

 diffuses itself through the mass; hence the enormous quantity of flour, meal, fee. spoiled 

 in transportation and Btoring. It is also well known that decomposition invariably com- 

 b.1 the centre of the bulk, owing to the increased pressure there, and to it- I <-ing 

 farther removed from the refrigerating influence of the atmosphere: it is a common occur- 

 rence "ii opening a barrel of flour t>> And it perfectly sweet and good al top, bottom, and 

 around the outside of the bulk, while al the centre it will be both hoi and bout. While 

 this > i" bulks of the size of a flour barrel, it is rare in a half-barrel. On 



this theory the invention is based, and to remedy this evil then' is lnserte<l :i tube or tubes 



longitudinally through the oask ill wliich BUofa Commodity i- to be packed, for the free cir- 



culation of air therethrough, bo that the centre of the cask is no longer the centre of the 

 mass: as in proportion as yon increase the diameter of the pipe, you increase the number of 

 centres in the bulk, thus mathematically dividing the mas- Into as many part-; as required, 

 which la equivalent to dividing the mass Into as many smaller packs 



mr barrel irith holes !'•' in each end in the centre of the heads A', to 



r the tube B. In filling the cask, the b< taken out, and the tube P. inserted in 



the hole in the lower bead of the cask; the desired quantity of flour or meal is then packed 

 therein, and the upper hi put into the oask again, the tube I', protruding through the 



holes in each end of the cask, about half an inch, more or less, which i j t" be hammered 

 down, forming a flange on the heads. Thus the air can circulate freely through the centre 

 of the bulk, aid it« liability to heat la obviated, and at the same time 'he cask is materially 

 ened. When 1 , ire used, several tube may be insert* 1 in the same 



oner, it found necessary. These tube-; may be Bade of iron, tin, wood, or any other 

 suitable material — porous, perforated, <t otherwise. 



