1868 The complete Practical Distiller

PROCESS OF MALTING.

75

ture as near approaching 145° as possible ; it

i& the most

favourable to the quality of the malt. In fact, this temperature, which is also that of mash- ing, occasions in the wet grain a new formation of sugar, in small quantity, it is true, but this influence of the kiln is not without producing good effect on the subse- quent operations, and the temperature of 145° is attended with the greatest success. The combustibles most gene- rally used for the purpose of drying malt are coke or distilled coals ; such as that furnished by the establish- ments of hydrogen gas, or even that proceeding from the distilleries. Next to that comes the vegetable coal, which, if it can be procured at a reasonable price, is very suit- able for the purpose. After this comes the ash-tree coal. This species of combustible makes little or no smoke when burning, and exhales sulphurous vapours, which are not at all obnox- ious to the quality of the malt. The grain increases greatly in bulk by the operation of mashing ; this aug- mentation may be rated at about one-eighth or ninth part, and their specific gravity decreases in proportion ; specific, because the real loss sustained in weight, during the fer- mentation of grain on the malt-floor, is not easily per- ceived ; but as it occupies after this operation a greater space under the same weight, it is easily conceived that it does not weigh so much under the same bulk. The reader being now acquainted with the process of malting, and with that of mashing, as also with the effects of these operations, let them now be applied properly. Of all kinds of corn, rye is the one principally used for

Other corn might, it is true, equally be

distillation.