ANA ANECDOTE MALT-MILL VENT-PEG. 389 



gallons, 23s. Our writers on brewing seem to agree 

 in the adoption of one generic term for casks, calling 

 them all barrels. 



Ana being a-la-mode, I may not neglect the op- 

 portunity of treating the reader with one, which 

 comes a-propos in this place. Perambulating the 

 metropolis, I observed a large cooperage. It occurred 

 to me as a good opportunity, to inquire the present 

 prices of brewing utensils, and whether any novelty 

 or improvement had supervened. The master was 

 called, and he appeared with a due degree of atten- 

 tion. I announced my inquiries. On the sudden, 

 wheeling to the right-about, and turning his back 

 upon me, Mr. Cooper said, with an expression of 

 sang froid and much consequence, " If you wait on 

 me when I am not so much engaged, I'll tell you all 

 about it." I, in course, preferred seeking another 

 cooper, and of inferior calibre. 



I should have quoted the price of a steel mill to 

 grind malt, which may be had at Johnson's Birming- 

 ham and Sheffield warehouse, Fenchurch-street, Lon- 

 don, for 4. 4s., and at lower prices. A bushel is 

 ground in seven or eight minutes. There is a new 

 brass vent-peg, which screws into the cask, and is 

 thence tight and secure for any length of keeping. 

 It may be had of any London ironmonger. I have 

 heard, but imperfectly, of some new and convenient 

 implement to draw tastings from the bung-hole, in- 

 stead of spiling and pegging the cask, which sometimes 

 leads to letting out the drink ; a curious instance of 

 which occurred to me lately, with a cask of wine. 

 The slugs were observed very busy about the vent- 

 s 3 



