Bui. 1465, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture 
Plate I 
Kettle for Sterilizing Soil Cans, with Attachments and Other 
Apparatus 
The kettle, in the foreground, rests on beam supports, being held by four lugs, one of which 
appears at the bottom center of the kettle. At the right a waste pipe from the rim leads 
downward and is controlled by a gate valve, shown here. At the lower left side is a pro- 
tected thermometer, beyond which is a pressure gauge. On the box is an electrical resist- 
ance thermometer, the three wires entering the kettle through the rim. The lid is shown 
closed with 11 clamps. Immediately behind the kettle appear two iron blocks, which 
counterpoise the lid. On top of the lid is a safety valve. The lower half of the kettle 
extends through the floor of the room. Behind the" kettle and between the iron blocks is 
an iron post supporting an overhead I beam, on which is a trolley, from which a chain 
block hangs. In the background a 5-horsepower steam boiler is seen, showing cocks, 
gauges, safety valve, smoke pipe, and two steam lines at the rear, the upper one leading 
outside the building, the other leading downward to the kettle 
