OPERATIONS IN A VINEGAR FACTORY. 103 



gradually through them, the greater portion of the ferment ad- 

 heres to the shavings, and increases with such rapidity that the 

 strong rise of temperature in the interior of the generators 

 shortly indicates the regular beginning of their activity, and the 

 effusion of alcoholic liquid can be commenced at once. 



Vinegar ferment developed upon one of the above-mentioned 

 fluids is evidently so constituted that it can be thoroughly nour- 

 ished by it, and hence the generators might be continued to be 

 charged with alcoholic liquid of a corresponding composition. It 

 being, however, as a rule, desired to manfacture as strong a pro- 

 duct as possible, an alcoholic liquid much richer in alcohol than 

 the above-mentioned nourishing fluids has to be used. 



By, however, suddenly changing the nourishing fluid of the 

 vinegar ferment, for instance, from a fluid containing only 4 to 

 6 per cent, of alcohol to one with 12 to 13 per cent., the action 

 of the ferment would very likely be sluggish before it became 

 accustomed to the new conditions. Further, its activity might 

 suffer serious disturbance and its augmentation decrease very 

 sensibly, so that notwithstanding strong heating of the workroom 

 and thorough ventilation of the generators, the temperature in 

 the latter would suddenly fall, and would only be restored to the 

 required degree after the ferment had become accustomed to the 

 new conditions and recommenced its vigorous augmentation. 



To overcome such annoying disturbances it is only necessary to 

 gradually change the composition of the nourishing fluid to that 

 which the alcoholic liquid to be worked in the generators is to 

 have. Commencing, for instance, with an alcoholic liquid con- 

 taining 5 per cent, of alcohol, the next day one with 6 per cent, 

 is used, the succeeding day one with 7 per cent., and so on until 

 the maximum percentage of alcohol the liquid is to have is 

 reached. 



