238 AMERICAH GRAPE GROWING 



The second story designed for a fermenting room is of 

 the same length and width as the cellar, and ten feet 

 high in the clear. Stone is the best material for the 

 walls, but if necessary they may be built of redwood, 

 double walls, or filled in with sawdust or some other non- 

 conducting material. The entrance is at the opposite 

 end from that to the cellar, so as to bring it on a level 

 with the upper part of the slope, and thus both may be 

 entered from the ground. The earth excavated from 

 the cellar may be used to bank up against the side walls 

 of the second story. This second floor will aif ord room for 

 a row of fermenting tanks all around the sides, and one in 

 the middle, with walks between in which to perform the 

 pumping, racking, etc. The fermenting tanks may be 

 of redwood or oak, comparatively shallow for the breadth. 

 Tanks ten feet wide and four feet deep will hold about 

 two thousand wine gallons each. Redwood tanks will 

 cost about two and a half cents a gallon. Of course the 

 capacity can be increased by increasing the depth, but 

 fermentation is much more thorough in shallow tanks 

 with free circulation of air, than in deeper ones, where, 

 besides the retarded fermentation, there is liability of 

 heating the pomace. The floor of the second story 

 should be double, of very strong planks, the sleepers rest- 

 ing on heavy timbers extending lengthwise, with a double 

 row, ten feet from each wall, supported by strong pillars 

 based on broad stones, as they have to sustain all the 

 superincumbent weight. This is as good as arching, and 

 much cheaper. A layer of tarred paper is generally 

 placed between the floors, to prevent leakage to the room 

 below. Ventilation of both stories is secured by holes 

 left in the wall, which may be opened or closed at will 

 from the outside. Strong doors, either double folding 

 doors or one sliding door, wide enough to admit the 

 large casks and fermenting vats, for both rooms, com- 

 plete the outside arrangements. Inside, large beams of 



