Or, on MD. on B. on A. on B. Set {14} to {309} against {90} are {181-0 M.B.} Having now offered every thing really useful in Malt Gaging, we come to one of the most difficult parts of an officer's duty, viz. Cask Gaging. OF CASK GAGING. THERE are four varieties of Casks, but no certain rule, applicable in practice, can be given for ascertaining exactly to which of them any particular cask belongs. When the staves are much curved, the cask is deemed to be the middle frustum of a spheroid, and is said to be of the First Variety. When the staves are curved in a less degree, the cask is regarded as the middle frustum of a parabolic spindle, and is termed a cask of the Second Variety. When the staves are curved so little as to appear almost straight, the cask is supposed to be formed of the frusta of two equal parabolic conoids, joined together by their bases; which form constitutes the Third Variety. And lastly, when the staves are quite straight from bung to head, the cask is considered as made up of the frusta of two equal cones, with co-incident bases; this shape of a cask being the Fourth Variety. Casks of the third and fourth varieties are seldom or never met with, the generality of casks being either of the First or Second Variety. To whatever variety a Cask belongs, the three following dimensions must be accurately taken. 1. The Bung Diameter, 2. The Head Diameter, 3. The Length of the Cask. These dimensions being known, a mean diameter between the head and bung diameters of the Cask must be found, such that a cylinder having for diameter this mean, and for altitude the length of the Cask, shall be in capacity equal to the Cask. Such is the general and best method of determining the content with ease, but it will be first necessary to shew in what manner the dimensions are to be taken in different positions of the Cask. PROBLEM I. To Gage a Cask Lying. Observe whether the bung hole is exactly half way between the ends of the Cask, and whether both ends are truly circular and equal: also, whether the stave opposite to the bung is even within, and of the same form as the other staves. Then measure the shortest distance between the inside of the chime and the outermost edge of the stave opposite, where it is sloped: this distance will be equal to the head diameter of the cask within, very nearly. Next, through the bung hole take the bung diameter of the Cask, allowing for the thickness of the stave at the bung, which thickness will be perceptible at the hole. Lastly, take the length, which is most commodiously, as well as expeditiously, found by a pair of long callipers; but in the absence of these, it may be ascertained as follows. and at the same time Then lay a straight Lay a straight rod, as AB, longitudinally along the Cask, so as to rest on the bulge, be equidistant from each chime. rule diametrically across each end of the Cask, in contact with the chimes, as CE, and DF: the distance between the rules, namely CD, measured on the rod AB, will be the gross length of the Cask. Lastly, from the gross length, subtract the depth of both chimes, and the thickness of both heads; the remainder will be the internal or nett length of the Cask. Suppose, now, the dimensions found by measure are the following: Bung diameter............33 inches Deduct from the gross length 4 inches for the two chimes and two heads, and the nett length of the Cask will be 40 inches. Now from these dimensions the content may be found by the rules laid down in Mensuration, for the particular solid according to the variety of the Cask, but the best practical method is that of reducing the Cask to a cylinder as we have just now mentioned. This is done with tolerable correctness in the manner following: When the difference between the bung and head diameters does not exceed six inches, multiply it Then add the product to the head diameter, and the sum will be the diameter of a cylinder, which being in altitude equal to the length of the Cask, shall be of the same capacity as the Cask. But if the head diameter differs more than six inches from the bung diameter, then multiply the difference In which ease the product is to be added to the head diameter, or subtracted from the bung diameter, for a mean diameter, as in the first case. Having ob ́ained the mean diameter, enter the Table of Circular Areas for Ale or for Wine, as may be required, and multiply the corresponding area by the length of the Cask for the content. EXAMPLE. Required the content of a Cask of the first variety, whereof the bung diameter is 31 inches, the head diameter 25 inches, and the length inside 40 inches. SOLUTION. 31 bung diameter 25 head diameter 6 difference Multiply by 68 according to rule Product 4.08 to be added 25.00 head diameter Sum 29.08 mean diameter. Now entering the Table of Circular Areas in Ale, |