8 TRANSACTIONS LIVERPOOL BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



The first method was adopted in order to temporarily 

 check the ravages of the insects until such time as the combined 

 cleaning and sterilizing plant could be erected. The standard 

 plant finally erected for sterilizing the wheat is also provided 

 with four sets of pre-cleaning machines (in one instance three 

 sets only were used) of a special and patented design, the 

 latter so arranged as to effectively separate loose weevil, 

 " pollard " and other offal from the wheat. Special screens 

 are also provided for separating weevil dust (" frass ") which 

 is collected and delivered into bags at the side of the machine. 

 -After this treatment the wheat is delivered on to special " jig " 

 screens and subjected to strong aspiration, thereby further 

 cleaning the wheat and separating more offal therefrom, 

 the material thus separated being collected automatically. 



After this preliminary cleaning the wheat is delivered 

 into an elevator which in turn delivers it to the sterilizer ; 

 the latter being of rectangular design, with numerous steam 

 coils, so spaced as to impart the desired temperature of 

 140-145° F. to the wheat. The wheat surrounds the steam 

 coils, and by means of a mechanically operated reciprocating 

 cut-off device at the bottom of the sterilizer, the flow of wheat 

 past the coils can be accurately regulated ; the steam pressure 

 in the coils is also kept constant by means of a reducing valve, 

 ensuring an even temperature and preventing over-heating, 

 and vortexing cannot take place. The time taken in passing 

 the grain through the sterilizer occupies from three to four 

 minutes. The condensed water from the coils is drawn 

 off through a steam trap, the hot water being delivered to the 

 hot water tank for the boiler feed. 



The wheat after passing through the sterilizer is delivered 

 on to a long spiral conveyor, which is fitted with suitable gear, 

 enabling it to be reversed when desired, as when starting up 

 the sterilizer the wheat is re-delivered to the elevator and 

 circulated until the desired temperature is reached, after 



