378 



Gauging a, Cask. 



Example : The inside dimensions of a cask being length; 

 40in., bung diameter 30in., head diameter 21 in., find its capacity in 

 U.S. and also in Imperial gallons : 



[21 + (30 - 21 x -7) ] 2 x 40 27'3 2 = 745-29 

 745-29 x 40 x -0034 = lOlf U.S. gallons. 

 745-29 x 40 x '0028 = 84 Imperial gallons. 



. Another method which gives results practically correct is by 

 means of the diagonal gauge rod. It offers the advantage of doing 

 away with calculations. These measuring rods are square rules 

 four feet to five feet long. They are divided into Imperial 

 gallons and fractions. 



It is diagonally inserted through 

 the bunghole into the cask as shown 

 in A.B., and a reading of the number 

 of gallons is taken, just under the 

 bung stave. Next take a reading in 

 the opposite direction, to check the 

 first reading. Should the two tally 

 the contents are known at once, but 

 should there be a difference between 

 the two readings, an average is- 

 struck. A proper gallon-measuring 

 gauge is not always handy, and in 

 that case an ordinary rod, showing 

 linear inches, may be substituted for it. The cask being carefully 

 measured as above from the lower surface of the bunghole stave to 

 the lower junction of head and bilge stave. The rule in that case 

 is : Cube the contents, and multiply by -00226 for gallons. 



Example : A cask measured as above shows 25 inches ; find 

 the contents in gallons : 



25 s X -00226 = 15625 X '00226 = 35'4 gallons. 



When the volume of small casks of wine is required, it is 

 often found easier to find its contents by weighing than by 

 measuring. A gallon of wine is known to weigh lOlbs., so that the 

 gross weight of the cask from which the weight of the empty cask 

 is deducted will give, when divided by 10, the number of gallons of 

 wine. Thus, say, the cask weighs, when full, 5851bs., and empty, 

 701bs., the difference divided by 10 gives 5H gallons. 



To SEASON CASKS. 



A " woody " taste very often taints what would otherwise have 

 been a good wine. It is too often surmised that because a cask has 

 just left the hands of the cooper, and is made of new wood, it is fit- 

 to receive wine straight away. Casks are at times injudiciously 

 ordered at the last moment from the cooper, and the consequence is 

 that they are too often botched for want of time, or made of green 

 timber should the supply of seasoned oak happen to run short ; or 

 again, the picking of the grapes is, on account of non-delivery of 



