390 Agricultural Gazette of N. 8. W. [Jtme 2, l{}'20. 



from the ground up to the platform. They consist of upright slabs, fitting 

 closely, but allowing air to pass freely in to the fire. The fuel of the fire 

 rests on the ground in a shallow cavity 2 feet wide, 9 inches deep, and 7 feet 

 long, running lengthwise under the platform. The firing required per day is 

 only about four 7-feet logs, about 9 inches in diameter, so that the firing bill 

 is exceedingly small. The fire should not be allowed to blaze or be too 

 fierce ; slightly gr^en ironbark logs are found to burn with little smoke and 

 a good ember. The doorway by which the fire is stoked is about 3 feet wide, 

 and is closed with a sheet of corrugated iron. 



Above the platform that carries the maize is a corrugated iron roof, 

 erected to protect the maize from rain during treatment, but in lieu of this a 

 tarpaulin may be used, either laid directly on the maize or raised on posts as 

 a temporary roof. 



AVe have inspected various types of kiln, and certain dimensions below 

 are given as presenting various advantages : — 



Platform. — 17 feet long, 12 feet wide, 7 feet above the ground, maize on platform, 

 2| feet deep. 



Fireplace. — 8 feet long, 3 feet wide, and scooped out to a depth of 9 inches. This 

 leaves 4 feet 6 inches between the fire and the walls on all sides. The hollow prevents 

 logs spilling or rolling. 



These dimensions would allow sixty-five to sixty-eight bags (about 200 



bushels) to be treated at a time. The time required in the kiln would be 



about three or four days according to the greenness or moisture of the maize 



under treatment. Preferably four days should be allowed, as implying a 



slower fire and more even heating. 



Advantages of Kiln-drying. 

 The advantages of kiln-drying may be classified as follows : — 

 The grain becomes available for market earlier. — Maize is suitable for 

 drying when the grain on the ears has passed from the "milky" to the 

 "doughy" Ftage — usually from four to six weeks ejirlier than the iKwmal 

 harvesting period. Considering that the operation can be carried out in from 

 three to four days, the saving in time should appeal very strongly to the 

 farmer who is out to catch the " early worm." 



Earlier marJceting means higher returns. — The main object in kiln-drying is 

 to place the maize on the matket at a period wlien the highest prices are 

 available. In normal seasons the supply of grain diminishes towards 

 September, prices gradually increasing until the new season's supplies come 

 to hand. It is this fact that has led the farmers of the Upper Manning 

 (chiefly around the Woodside region) to adopt methods which have proved to 

 be highly remunerative, more especially during the present .season, when 

 (owing to the partial failure of last season's crops, the ^ery small vrheat 

 harvest, the shipping strikes preventing importations from other partK, and 

 the extraordinary demand for all foodstuffs from drought-stricken districts) 

 prices for maize have reached and maintained record heights. Kiln-drying, 

 in consequence, has been more in evidence than for many years past. Not 

 only have the early sown crops been treated this year, but crops sown much 

 lat<^r, that wouid in ordinary seasons have been allowed to ripen naturftlly. 



