CULTIVATION. 241 



twenty-four hours, according to the number of the columns 

 and the number and size of the frames in each. 



The hops are spread out two inches deep on the frames, 

 and take ten to twelve hours to dry. The cost of erecting 

 this kiln is from £120 to £160, according to size. 



The Loschner kiln. Fig. 69, obtained the first prize in 

 the hop kiln competition instituted by the Saaz-Postelberg 

 Agricultural and Forestry Association in 1894. It is a 

 two-storey kiln, with two slow-combustion stoves of ex- 

 cellent construction on the ground floor. The heating 

 arrangement consists of three or four perfectly straight 

 pipes, perfectly gilled, conducting the products of combus- 

 tion to the chimney, and mounted in a conduit of masonry 

 beneath the bricked floor. To facilitate internal inspection, 

 and repairs each of the pipes can be drawn out from the 

 outside. The stoves are charged from a firebrick shafts 

 which, when filled with fuel, keeps the fire going for seven 

 hours without any further attention. 



In the upper storey are arranged two columns of frames, 

 vsrith a space between for loading and unloading. Each 

 column contains twenty large frames, fitted with impreg- 

 nated canvas and mounted so as to project one beyond 

 another, and is surrounded on three sides by brick walls, iron- 

 lined doors separating the columns from the intermediate 

 room. 



The heating flue, supplied with cold air at the bottom 

 near the stove, opens at the top into the kiln chamber, 

 where the hot air is discharged. In consequence of the 

 projecting arrangement of the frames, each one intercepts 

 its own share of the prisnaatic column of hot air ascend- 

 ing from the stove, and conducts the same in a nearly 

 horizontal direction over and under the hops, until, the 

 task of drying being accomplished, it escapes from the 



frames and ascends to the roof. 



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