1825 
above the opening for the admission of the steam. The can will hold 
six half-bushel bags, or three bushels of soil. Four quarts of water 
are placed in the pan, the tight-fitting cover is put on, and the pipe 
for conducting the steam to the can attached. (See figure at left.) 
The gas or oil stove is lighted and the steam begins to form in about 
five minutes * The apparatus will evaporate about four quarts or eight 
pounds of water in an hour. This is equal* to nearly a fourth-horse- 
power boiler. It requires about three hours of steaming with the ap- 
paratus to bring about the desired results in the soil. For the last 
half hour of the steaming the temperature of the soil inside the bags 
runs from 75° to 80° C. It is necessary to keep adding water to the 
pan, as the best results in steaming are secured when about four quarts 
of water or less are in the receptacle. The contrivance could easily 
be made so that the water of condensation returns to the pan. Extreme 
simplicity is the chief consideration, however, so that the return of 
the water is not regarded as important. The condensed water remains 
in the bottom of the can or runs out of the hole for the admission of 
the steam pipe. The leakage of steam around this hole is negligible. 
Soil treated in this apparatus does not become water-logged and in 
every respect J.s as good as that from any of the other devices we have 
used. For field and laboratory purposes, for small growers with frames 
and greenhouses, and for others who may be desirous of producing clean, 
strong, healthy plants, this apparatus will be found useful and con- 
venient, especially where gas is not at hand. The apparatus may be 
used for sterilizing dishes and other appliances and could be uti- 
lized for cooking and canning. With a two-burner blue flame oil stove, 
one gallon of kerosene will run the apparatus for eight .hours and will 
evaporate thirty to thirty -two quarts of water at an expense of fif- 
teen cents. This means the treatment of seven to nine bushels of soil 
at a total cost of about fifteen cents, or about two cents per bushel. 
Using a two-burner gas stove it requires 200 cubic feet of gas for 
eight hours, costing fifteen cents, to evaporate thirty- two quarts of 
water. It will be noted, therefore, that the cost of oil and gas is 
practically the same on the basis of fifteen cents a gallon for kero- 
sene and seventy-five cents per thousand cubic feet for gas. 
