52 STRONG DRINK AND TOBACCO SMOKE. 



is found to have lost its light colour, to have swollen 

 considerably, and to have become comparatively soft. 



The water is next drained from the grain, which is 

 now removed to a four-sided rectangular frame (for 

 the purpose of being charged with duty by the revenue 

 officers) to a depth varying from ten to thirty inches. 

 From this frame it is removed in a few hours to the 

 working floor (a level surface of slate, tiles, or stucco), 

 and laid thick and close so as to preserve the heat 

 evolved by germination, which has now actively com- 

 menced. Small white pips will, in a few days, make 

 their appearance at one end of the grain, whilst on 

 its back a raised protuberance underlying the husk 

 will be seen lengthening itself from day to day. 



It is now the maltster's special care, by turning the 

 grain on the floor, spreading it thickly or thinly, to 

 regulate its temperature, so as to obtain a thoroughly 

 even growth throughout the floor, a result which is made 

 more certain of attainment by sprinkling the grain with 

 water. AVhen the rootlets extend beyond the grain 

 some half an inch in length, and the plumule extends to 

 about three-fourths of its length (Plate 2, fig. 2) the 

 germination or growth of the grain may be considered 

 sufficiently advanced, and at this stage is arrested by 

 throwing it into a chamber of hot air provided with 

 a tiled floor, perforated with minute holes. The heat 

 of this chamber (the kiln) is maintained by a fire of 

 charcoal, wood, or coke, placed underneath, and is 

 gradually raised as the water escapes from the grain 



