Implement Show at Manchester. 
555 
composed of four blades, 4 ft. 2 in. from outside to outside. The blades are 
'2 ft. 4 in. by 1 ft. 3 in., and revolve about 528 times per minute. Mr. 
Gibbs states that, by increasing the velocity of the fan, suiiicient heat can be 
generated to act upon a much larger surface at one time than was jiossible in 
the apparatus under experiment. In drying corn the chambers are fitted up 
withj iron plates, forming a false bottom, under which the heat is driven ; it 
ascends by means of perforated cones, thirty-two in number, on each of which 
a sheaf is placed. Finally, the products of combustion and the moisture 
drawn out of the corn find vent along the corrugations of the roof by the 
eaves of the shed. The plan of working is lirst to fill one chamber with 
sheaves, close the door, and turn on the blast ; whilst the process is going on 
the other chamber is filled, and thus there need be no cessation in the work. 
In dealing with hay it will probably be best to remove the shed altogether, 
leaving a cover over the mouth of the blast, and keep the hay constantly 
agitated. This appears necessary, as otherwise the occasional sparks might 
■cause ignition as the hay became dried. Two men with mechanical assistance 
are required to be in attendance. The intense heat and vapours of sulphur', 
and other objectionable products, make this very distressing work, about which 
there would, we think, be a difficulty. 
At the commencement of our experiment the temperature at the fan was 
'320°, in eight minutes it had risen to 358°, We could only deal with sheaves 
■of green rye which had been cut by the reaping-machines. These we 
thoroughly wetted over night. The 32 sheaves before the experiment weighed 
379 lbs., after fifteen minutes in the chamber 321 lbs. 12 oz., showing a loss 
I)y drying of 57i lbs. It is therefore abundantly evident that the moisture 
-can be removed ; the sheaves operated on were in a very wet condition, all 
soaked to the bond, and in a state which would be rare in nature. The 
question then is, how far the apparatus is in its present form practically 
-useful, A man can pitch from 6 to 8 acres a day of corn, averaging 500 
sheaves per acre ; by a day we mean 10 hours' actual work, and it is clear 
that we ought to be able to dry the com as fast as it can be brought from the 
field. What are the facts as proved by our experiment? — 32 sheaves required 
15 minutes to dry, or 1280 sheaves for 10 hours, a trifle over the produce of 
2i acres. Mr. Gibbs suggests night- work, and in some cases it might answer ; 
but there would be considerable risk and inconvenience, and this expedient 
does not remove the inequality between the carting and drying the corn. Mr. 
Gibbs tells us, in his essay, that the apparatus could be greatly enlarged, but 
as we had no proof of this, and as any increase in space would necessarily 
require a greater amount of power to exhaust the products of combustion, and 
■consequently cause an increase of expense, it is only reasonable to assume 
that Mr. Gibbs has adopted the space which his experience has proved to be 
most successful. So much for the process of corn-drying. We have said that 
the temperature rose to 358° ; what influence, we may ask, would such heat 
have upon the germinating powers of the seed ? It was evident that the butts 
of several of the sheaves nearest the fan were actually singed, and we cannot 
doubt that any ears coming in contact with the iron floor or false bottom would 
he kiln-burnt, and injured even for grinding purposes. K corn stands up well 
■and is carefully tied the ears are at one end, but it often happens, especially in 
a laid crop, that some are reversed, and these would suffer. Any tendency of 
this kind might probably be modified by introducing a second floor and 
-elongating the cones, but of course this would add to the cost. 
With regard to the drying of hay, as to which the inventor attaches great 
weight, we are not prepared to speak very favourably. In the first place, the 
bulky nature of the article causes considerable labour ; motion is absolutely 
necessary both to insure equal drying and to prevent ignition from the sparks 
^driven through it. The heat and suffocating vapours from the coal are most 
