convenient distance: this chimney is intended to
let off the great smoke that arises in the kiln at first lighting fire,
particularly if the wood be moist or green. When this has gone off, and
the fire burns clear, the register may be shut within a few inches, in
order to keep up a small draft. It would have been proper to state that
joists, intended to support the floor of this kiln, should be levelled
off to one inch, top and bottom, so as give the fire a better chance to
act upon the malt; these joists should be further paid as soon as, or
before, laying down, with a strong solution of alum water; as also the
bottom face of the boards laid on them, which should be first planed;
the inside of the chimney and register should be also paid with the
alum solution. On the top of the kiln should be placed a ventilator to
draw off the steam of the malt, this may be done by means of a loover
or cow; the latter turns with the wind, the former is stationary.

There should be skirting boards, nine inches deep, to lie close to the
floor and walls of the kiln, plastered with hair mortar on the top.
This construction of kiln has been introduced by the Dutch, and will be
found the most economical of any, joined to the peculiar advantage of
being capable of drying malt with any kind of fuel, without danger of
communicating any sort of bad flavour to the grain, while the heat can
be securely raised to 120 degrees without any danger of ignition or
burning; a higher heat is not wanted to dry pale malt. Of this,
however, I have some doubts, as wood is a non-conductor of heat, and
possibly is not susceptible of transmitting such a heat to the malt
without danger of ignition. I should think that thin metal plates, one
foot square, cast so as to lap on each other, or tiles, of the same
make or form, would be a better covering; they certainly would convey
the heat more rapidly and securely to the malt or grain intended to be
dried on it, never requiring less fuel than the wooden covering, and
precluding all danger of fire.

[Illustration:

A A A A A ground section of the vats.
B the section of elevation.]

_A new and economical construction of Vats for keeping Beer, which,
in this way, may be rendered fire proof, whilst, at the same time, it
secures a temperature for the liquor equal, it is expected to the best
vaults: it further affords the convenience of having them above
ground._

These vats may be constructed in different