385 



In Victoria a number of fermenting vats have of late years 

 been constructed with much success. Bricks and cement are the 

 only material required, no lime being used for setting the bricks. 



No very substantial foundation is required ; the top soil on the 

 floor of the fermenting shed is simply scooped out with the spade ; 

 a 9-inch brick wall is built all round the space to be covered with 

 the cement vats, and if resting on clay, which expands and shrinks 

 very perceptibly according as it gets wet or dry, it is advisable to 

 spread a layer of clean dry sand, two or three inches thick, within that 

 space and ram it well down. The surface having been made smooth, 

 spread the cement, set the bricks and grout with liquid cement. 

 The mortar is made of cement one part and sand two parts. 



Both sand and cement must be sifted, and the mortar must be 

 very liquid. Over this foundation build up a single-brick- 

 thick work 4f inches to the height required. Round off the 

 angles and corners inside, and have the floor sloping from every 

 direction into one corner. 



Two types of Cement Tanks. 



This favours the drainage of the liquids, which can be bailed 

 out with the dipper, and dried with a sponge. Before the cement is 

 quite set it is found advisable to blow dry cement and rub it in so 

 as to give a smooth polish to the surface. The top of the walls is 

 also capped with cement. 



At intervals, on the top of the walls, small brackets are pro- 

 vided, which help in making fast the false head which keeps the 

 marc or skins and seeds submerged. Instead of having the 

 bottom slope converging to one point inside into a cup or 

 pit, a two-inch brass tap is sometimes inserted into the wall, flush 

 with the lowest corner, and the liquid can be run out, with- 

 out pumping or syphoning, which the other alternative would! 

 necessitate. In that case a small cement gutter with a gradual 

 fall towards an underground tank, whence it is pumped out, is 

 provided along the line of vats. Although this appears to be a 

 convenient method of emptying the vats, yet some object to it on 

 the ground that there may be a danger of the taps getting knocked 

 out and causing a leakage, or of the underground tank requiring 

 frequent and careful cleansing, thus involving extra work. 



