KILN-DRYING. 213 



and cheap kiln is constructed, with walls eight feet high, 

 enclosing a space of about fifteen feet square. At this 

 height, there are two strong cross beams, on which are 

 laid smaller timbers or ribs to receive the corn. The 

 walls then rise above the ribs five or six feet more, the 

 kiln being closed by a simple ceiling of cross-joists, co- 

 vered with turf. Any cheap and ordinary roof answers 

 to cover the whole. The fire-place is constructed so as 

 to throw back the ascending sparks, and a small porch 

 directly opposite to the fire-place prevents violent blasts 

 of wind, and covers the fuel and the attendant from rain. 

 The drying-floor contains about three hundred sheaves 

 of corn, which are closely set up the band end of the 

 sheaves downwards, and the grain upwards usually 

 towards evening, and when the wood which is employed 

 to heat the kiln has burned to charcoal. By the next 

 morning the wheat and straw are generally found in a 

 dry state, and may then be stacked in perfect safety ; 

 for all danger of their becoming either heated or mouldy 

 is now removed, and the sheaves are in the best possible 

 condition for the flail. The process of kiln-drying by 

 no means prevents the germination of the corn when 

 used for seed, while it not only preserves both grain and 

 straw, but increases their wholesome qualities. Straw 

 is the chief provender of cattle in Russia, and to provide 

 it in a fresh state, the peasantry thresh out their oats 

 and barley by degrees, just as we do in this country. 

 By the process of kiln-drying, Russia is able to export 

 large quantities of rye and wheat with less risk of 

 damage to the grain than is incurred by other nations 

 similarly circumstanced, where the practice is not known 

 or adopted. Through the north of Russia, Livonia, 

 Courland, and Lithuania, kiln-drying is so general as to 

 be considered the closing operation of the harvest. By 

 it all kinds of corn, peas, beans, and buck-wheat are 

 preserved, and are ready for immediate threshing, or for 

 being stowed away in burns, without any danger of either 

 straw or corn receiving injury. The expense of kilns, 



