102 PRODUCTION ON THE AMERICAN CONTINENT. 



The kilns vary in size. A common size is 16 x 20 feet, 

 and 14 to 15 feet from the ground to the kiln floor, and about 

 8 feet from the kiln floor to the gable roof, which has an open- 

 ing or cupola in the centre of the peak. The kiln floor is 

 made of slats 1 inch by 2 or 2J inches, set upon the edge, 

 about 2 inches apart, upon which is spread a cloth, usually 

 " burlap," coarse linen, weighing 11 ounces to the yard. At 

 the bottom of the kiln, on each side, are one or two holes, 

 about 3 feet long by 1 foot high, called air-holes, and closed 

 by a slide. The heat is received from a stove placed on the 

 ground floor, with the pipe running around the room in the 

 form of a square, or parallel with the walls of the kiln, about 

 5 or 6 feet below the kiln cloth, so as not to scorch the hops. 

 The hops are now placed upon the kiln, and are spread from 

 a foot to a foot and a half in thickness. The fire is then 

 started gradually, with the air-holes open below, and the cupola 

 open above, to admit a good current of cool air coming in 

 from below, and allow the escape of the heated air from the 

 top. The temperature is raised during the early part of the 

 drying to 100-120 Fahr., when the hops have become 

 thoroughly warmed, so as to give out their moisture, which 

 is commonly known as sweating. Brimstone is burnt on the 

 stove for the purpose of bleaching. The quantity of brim- 

 stone used varies according to the condition of the hop ; 

 when the hop is bright and free from disease, and a light 

 green colour is desired, only two or three pounds are used to 

 a kiln of about twenty boxes; but when a bright golden- 

 yellow colour is required, or when the hop has been injured 

 by disease or wind, then larger quantities are necessary, say 

 from three to four pounds, or even as high as five or six 



