Report on the Trials of ImjAements at Reading. 675 
together in bad condition. Before commencing the stack, 
flues of 9-inch socketed drain-pipes had been laid down. The 
stack-stead was laid out 10 feet by 30 feet, but this size was 
considerably overrun. A line of pipes had been laid down the 
centre, with five openings upwards and with three branches 
converging towards the fan (see a, a. Fig. 9). These branches 
were each of them in connection with one of the draught inlets of 
the fan. These numerous flues were, it is presumed, intended 
rather to show the means by which a number of stacks could be 
worked from a stationary fan than to indicate what was required 
for the cooling of a single stack of the size of the one operated 
upon. Over each one of the flues was placed a slatted wooden 
cage, 10 inches square and 8 feet high. In course of time 
this stack settled down until the eaves were less than 7 feet 
from the ground, so that the shafts extended up into the roof. 
By the afternoon of the 9th (Sunday) the temperature on the 
east had got up to 125°, and on the morning of the 10th to 
150^. The upper ends of the five shafts had been covered up 
by hay ; but when the roof was laid out to receive the remainder 
of the crop, they were uncovered for a little while and the heat 
rapidly declined to 130°.* 
At 4.20 P.M. on Monday the 10th, the fan was started, and it 
worked for one hour. The engine used was one of eight-horse 
power, made by the Reading Ironworks Co. Mr. Carey 
(Assistant-Engineer), who was present throughout the working, 
reported that not more than four-horse power was exerted. The 
revolutions of the fan, which worked very regularly, were 1100 
per minute. Before the fan started the temperature was 
On the North .. .. 98°, on the East 130°, and on the Wtst 104°. 
After one hour's work.. 94°, „ 106°, „ 82°. 
The observation on the north was by a thermometer inserted in 
an iron tube about 4^ feet from the ground ; those on the east 
and west were by spear thermometcs, which were thrust into 
the stack about 5 feet. As there were five shafts in this small 
stack, it was not very easy to make sure that a thermometer was 
not too near one of them to give a true indication of the heat. 
At first the very great variations in temperature which occurred 
within a short distance disposed the Judges to believe that the 
* It has been thought desirable to tabulate the observations of the tempera- 
ture of the different stacks and the fan workings, and full information on these 
points will be found in Tables IV. to XV., pp. 704-718. It must be observed 
that the Judges' notes would have been more copious and more interesting- 
if the public would have allowed the thermometers to remain in the stacks 
where they were placed. Continually were they pulled out and put in some 
other place, or perhaps not put in the stack at all. Most of the exhibitors had 
to complain that they had several thermometers broken or stolen. 
2x2 
