204 
The  Trials  of  Hop-Drying  Plant,  1909. 
The  fuel  used  varied  in  each  case,  and  this  has  to  be  borne 
in  mind  when  considering  the  quantity  of  “ fuel  used  per  cwt. 
of  output.” 
In  the  case  of  Messrs.  Whiting,  coal  and  coke  in  approxi- 
mately equal  quantities  was  used  for  six  days,  then  coke  alone 
for  five  days,  and  wood  and  coke  for  two  days. 
With  Mr.  Show’s  plant  coke  alone  was  used  throughout  the 
trials,  while  with  Mr.  Partridge’s  plant  coal  alone  was  used. 
The  temperatures  generally  were  very  equally  divided  over 
different  parts  of  the  kilns.  The  trials  show  clearly  the  very 
largely-increased  output  obtainable  per  square  foot  of  hair 
where  forced  draught  is  used. 
In  comparing  the  amount  of  power  taken  to  work  the  fans 
in  Mr.  Show’s  case,  there  is  a portable  steam  engine,  which, 
though  unnecessarily  large  for  the  work  it  has  to  do,  is  yet 
available  for  doing  whatever  other  work  may  be  required 
during  the  remaining  part  of  the  year. 
Mr.  Partridge,  on  the  other  hand,  has  a fixed  oil  engine  for 
driving  his  fans. 
A comparison  between  these  two  would  hardly  give  a fair 
conclusion. 
For  work  which  only  occupies  a few  weeks  in  the  year  it  is 
better  to  assume  that  the  power  would  be  hired.  The  smallest 
portable  engine  one  would  be  likely  to  get  would  be  8 H.P., 
which  would  be  more  than  sufficient  to  drive  either  plant. 
Messrs.  Whiting  commenced  their  trials  on  September  6, 
finishing  on  September  18.  The  trials  proceeded  with  remark- 
able uniformity.  Only  one  kiln  being  under  trial,  it  was  an 
easy  matter  to  regulate  the  amount  of  green  hops  in  each 
casting.  With  Messrs.  Shew’s  and  Partridge’s  castings  it  was 
impossible  to  get  the  same  uniformity  as,  all  three  kilns  being 
treated  as  one,  if  there  was  any  shortage  in  the  day’s  picking, 
it  affected  the  load  in  the  kiln. 
Mr.  Shew  commenced  his  trials  on  September  13  and 
concluded  on  September  28. 
Mr.  Partridge  commenced  his  trials  on  September  14  and 
concluded  on  September  22. 
At  the  conclusion  of  the  easting  samples  of  dried  hops 
were  taken  from  one  of  the  pockets  of  each  easting,  in  the 
presence  of  one  of  the  observers  in  charge  of  the  trials,  and 
were  submitted  to  the  inspection  of  the  Judges,  as  well  as  to 
an  independent  hop  merchant  and  hop  factor. 
It  is  interesting  to  note  that  the  maximum  depths  of 
green  hops  in  the  kilns  were  as  follows  : — 
Neame’s  (Whiting)  . . 12  inches. 
Shew’s  ....  22  „ 
Partridge’s  . . . 31  „ 
