126 OX IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY, ETC. 



to be a small quantity of sharpshingle along with two or three gallons of 

 hot water. 



The time occupied in cleansing ordinary dirty casks is 5 minutes, 

 and very had mouldy casks about 12 minutes. Thus it will be seen 

 that one of these machines is calculated to cleanse easily 100 ordinary 

 dirty casks, or 60 mouldy ones per hour, at the mere expense of two 

 or three labourers and an insignificant amount of engine power. In 

 large establishments, where unheading is still resorted to, the saving to 

 be effected by this new machine must of necessity be great. 



With regard to purifying both new and old casks, there can be no 

 doubt that the wisest course for new casks is to divest the wood as much 

 as possible of the coloured juices before it is made up into casks, which 

 is easily done by hot water or steam, and afterwards drying by currents 

 of hot air. Old and tainted casks are found to be ciu'ed (within 1 in 

 200) by partial steaming and afterwards applying currents of hot air 

 at 450 degrees Fah. 



Experience, having sufficiently proved the soundness of this mode 

 of preparing casks for a most important branch of trade, it may seem 

 almost needless to suggest any other method of performing the same 

 work. But the author being the first to discover the importance of 

 applying heated currents to such a purpose, he feels it incumbent on 

 him to state that there is still another element which he believes must, 

 ere long, supersede, to a considerable extent, the one before referred 

 to ; it is that of superheated steam, the use of which was discovered 

 lately by the author in rather a singular manner : While engaged 

 in some experiments with superheated steam, it occurred to him, 

 seeing that there was an indicated temperature at the time of between 

 600 and 700 Fah., that it would be well to try its effect upon a very 

 bad stinking cask which, being obtained, was subjected to the heat 

 for 10 minutes, when it was pronounced perfectly sweet. It is only 

 necessary to add that the same result has followed many repetitions of 

 the system, and although all have not been attended with the same 

 success, the author feels that it has not arisen from any fault in the 

 principle, but rather from a want of sufficient practical data as to the 

 exact temperature and the amount of time which the casks can be safely 

 exposed to this powerful agent. 



