494 



THE FARMER'S iMAGAZINE. 



the seed, rendered impervious to moisture and atmns- 

 pheric influence by a covering at top, hermetically closed, 

 affording thereby the means of frequently ascertaining 

 the degree of humidity within. The corn or seed, having 

 an excess of moisture is previously desiccated. These 

 tubular granaries — which may be laid under-ground, or 

 partially or wholly above— consist of a metallic case, pre- 

 ferably constructed of sheet-iron, covered outside with 

 a coat of hydraulic or other cement, and, if necessary, 

 with a coat of preservative varnish. * * The cham- 

 bers are closed with an iron lid or plug, with a pad of 

 leather, caoutchouc, or gutta-percha introduced between 

 the parts in contact, and by an inner cover adapted to 

 the neck of the chamber, hermetically sealed." A claim 

 is made for the adaptation of examining tubes connected 

 with the lids, and dipping into the interior of the store; 

 vessel. Sounding tubes can be inserted into these tubes, 

 so as to bring up and ascertain the condition o( the grain 

 at any desired depth. 



As applicable to this method of storing grain in sepa- 

 rate vessels, and also to the preservation o( flour in re- 

 ceptacles, we here notice a method of preventing and re- 

 tarding decay in accumulated masses of food, which de- 

 pends, according to the patentee, on very simple princi- 

 ples. " This invention is based upon the theory that 

 in vegetable substances which contain only a small 

 quantity of moisture the process of decay always, or almost 

 invariably the commences at the centre of the mass, 

 and from thence extends in all directions. It is well 

 known to millers and others engaged in the manufacture, 

 storage, and transportation of flour, meal, and grain, that 

 in these substances such is the ca?e, the centre being 

 frequently found soured and heated highly, while those 

 portions near the outside of the mass are uninjured. It 

 is also the case in hay or other substances of a similar 

 nature. In order, therefore, to retard as much as pos- 

 sible the process, the nature of this invention consists 

 in removing the centre of the mass, by placing therein 

 an open tube or tubes, or by the employment of similar 

 means, by which the mass is so distributed that, if decay 

 commences at any point, it must extend to a very great 

 distance in order to aft\ct any considerable portion of 

 the mass, and therefore its progress must be very slow. 

 By thus removing the centre, the mass is also distri- 

 buted in a bodyoflefs than one-half the thickness it 

 would otherwise be ; and thus it is believed that the ten- 

 dency to decay is in a great degree prevented." The 

 name of the patentee is Edward Loradoux Bellford ; 

 the date of the patent May 12, 1854. 



The principle, if correct, is of easy adoption in prac- 

 tice ; it is applicable obviously to corn-bins and corn, 

 or hay-stacks also. In these latter all the advantages of 

 the tubes may be obtained, as suggested by (he patentee, 

 by placing a series of poles in the centre, so as to form a 

 tube or ventiduct. There can be little doubt of the 

 eflBcacy of the plan of a central tube, where air, warmed 

 or otherwise, is forced through it by fanners, as already 

 suggested. 



Should any of the methods above described be consi- 

 dered too much out of the range of ordinary practice, 

 and granaries after the methods of our fathers deemed the 

 best, it will certainly be worthy of all consideration 



whether — in view of the on-all sides acknowledged bene- 

 fits derivable from passing currents of air through masses 

 of grain — it will not be, to say the least, a common-sense- 

 like method of proceeding to make some simple arrange- 

 ments by which currents of air could be brought in con- 

 tact with grain as it lies on the granary floor. This could, 

 at comparatively small expense, be effected by making 

 the floor double, the upper part of perforated plates or 

 tiles ; or, what would be cheaper, constructing a series of 

 channels, at greater or less distances, between the line of 

 joists, with openings tending upwards to the granary, 

 and into this doubleflooror through these channels, send- 

 ing currents of air by artificial or natural means. The air 

 passing through the aperture would permeate the mass of 

 superposed grain, and be discharged through the ventila- 

 tors at the top. In home-stalls or steadings, where sta- 

 tionary engines and fixed thrashing machines are used, the 

 granary being in close contiguity with the apartments in 

 which these apparatus are placed, every facility is fortu- 

 nately given by which power can be adapted to the 

 forcing of the currents of air through the channels we 

 have described. 



With the scientific and practical evidence surrounding 

 us in favour of the value of dried grain for bread- 

 producing purposes, and of its preservative powers, and 

 with a wide choice of plans by which this drying or de- 

 siccation can be easily, economically, and perfectly en- 

 sured, small excuse can be made for the farmer who 

 complains of having grain, the deterioration of which in 

 value and preservative influences arises from an excess of 

 moisture — the cause, be it here noted, in nine cases out of 

 ten, of the decay of grain. With the aid which the steam- 

 engine -an appliance of nearly every well-conducted 

 farm — gives the agriculturist, a very slight exercise of in- 

 ventive ingenuity and constructive skill on his part will 

 enable him to improvise some simple mechanism by 

 which he can realize, in some measure, the effect of the 

 summer's heat with the winds of early spring — a combi- 

 nation for the preservation of vegetable substances than 

 which nothing can surpass. R.S. B. 



PREMIUMS FOR THE BEST SAMPLES OP 

 BARLEY. — Last year Messrs. Blizards and Godaall offered a 

 prize of a silver cup, cf ten guineas' value, to the farmer 

 who should sell thera the best sample of Barley, not 

 less than two hundred bushels in quantity. The com- 

 petition was sharp and close, and the results were so 

 satisfactory, that the firm immediately advanced upon 

 their first attempt, and for the succeeding year 

 offered two cups, upon the sameconditioug, one to be competed 

 for by groweis in the counties of Gloucester, Worcester, and 

 Hereford ; aud the other by those of Oxford, Wilts, and Berks. 

 The cups were adjudged on Wednesday last, and about fifty 

 samples were shown from the first-named counties, and tea 

 from the other three. The judges, Messrs. Ashby Saunders, 

 brewer, of Cheltenham; W. Turk, maltster, Cheltenham; 

 and W. H. Gillett, corn-merchant, of Swindon, decided 

 that one prize was due to J. Hall, Esq., cf Ripple, Worces- 

 tershire ; and the other to W. T. Hayward, Esq , of Little 

 Whittenham, Berks; aud they highly commended the barley 

 shown by Mr. Lane, of Ripple, who won the cup last year. 

 The various competing samples were ranged on Messrs. 

 Blizards' stall in the Corn Exchange, aud formed a very great 

 attraction during the hours of business. The event was cele- 

 brated by a dinner at the Swan Hotel, which was attended by 

 a great number of the agriculturists and merchants of the 

 neighbourhood, as well as mauy from a diatance. 



