140 



THE IMPERIAL BUSHEL. 



The various disputes which frequently arise respecting the measure 

 of grain, by reason of the great diversity of form of the bushel in 

 common use amongst merchants, farmers, millers, and others, ren 

 dering it oftentimes next to impossible to know correctly whether it 

 be too large or too small one being quite as likely to happen as the 

 Other, even in the hands of well-disposed persons the following table 

 has been drawn up for the purpose of settling the question. By re 

 ference to this, any one can satisfy himself of the capacity of his 

 own or his neighbour s measure, while in the act of buying or sell 

 ing, with the greatest exactitude. The form of the bushel was 

 originally 19^ inches in diameter, and of sufficient internal capacity 

 to hold eight gallons ; but it was found extremely inconvenient for 

 the purpose of measuring grain into bags, &c. being too broad and 

 shallow ; the bushels in common use are narrower, and in proportion 

 deeper, so that the exact content shall be the same, be the depth and 

 diameter what they may. But as no one could easily conceive the 

 great and serious difference that even the eighth part of an inch in 

 diameter in the bushel he uses will cause him, it is of importance 

 that some ready mode should be adopted, by which every man may 

 satisfy himself on the subject ; and it is with this view the following 

 table is given, which shows the content of any bushel in pints and 

 quarters of pints, of all the various diameters and depths that bushels 

 in common use are to be met with : and as a bushel ought to contain 

 exactly 64 pints, whatever the content in the table exceeds or falls 

 short of that sum, will be what the bushel holds more or less than 

 its proper quantity. 



Explanation. The first column contains the diameter of the 

 bushel in inches and parts of an inch ; the second the depth, and 

 the third its contents in pints. Thus, if a bushel be 15 inches in 

 diameter, and 12^ inches in depth, its content will be 63| pints, or 

 one- quarter of a pint less than it ought to be. Again, if a bushel 

 be 15 inches in diameter, and 12 inches in depth, its content will 

 be 65J pints, or a pint and a quarter more than measure. 



