The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-08-30

the whole year. the stem of flooring OF
hops not thoroughly cured must be the
exception and not the rule: in fact, each
hop should be thoroughly cured.
Second-The hop should be cured at a
low temperature, the lower the better, and
not let the hops sag on the floor. In
practice $50 degrees Fahrenheit. shown
by the thermometer Immediately under
the flooring of the hops, is as low as we
can run the heat and make reasonable
progress.
To be enabled to cure hops thoroughly at
a low temperature and not stir the hops
on the floor, sulphur must be used freely.
Sulphur is not used primarily to color the
hops. though to certain extent such Is
the result. Sulphur is a dryer and also
preserver of hops. 1t is a cheaper dryer
at cents per pound than ordinary cord
wood; that Is, a flooring of hops can be
cured cheaper and better with the use OF
sulphur-say one pound TO the box-than
if only the hest from cord wood alone Is
used.
Brainard says:
We will here say few words about the FIRE.
quently ana uniustly discredited treatment OF
hops with sulphur. similar apparatus as tor
dry malt is used for smoking the hops with sui
phur The hops are spread upon hurdles made
OF stats and covered with horse hair cloth, and
beneath these is burned one-haif TO one ki.o-
gramme Ill TO p pounds) OF pure sulphur tor
each cwt. of hons. The sulphur combines
with the oxygen OF the air to suiphurous
acid, which passes through the hops in the
form OF vapor. The effects OF the sulphurous
acid is manifold. They are bleached by being
smoked with sulphur, as tho sulphnrous acid
destroys certain organic coloring matter. by de-
oxidation or passes INTO coioriess combination
with them. The sulphurous acid has further
the quality OF combining with nitrogenous
organic compounds falbuminous bodiesj,
aud to protect these easily chaugeable
subtances from decomposition. 1t further acts
upon the membranes of the cells in such
manner, that their power of retaining water
decreases, and thus the smoking with sulphur
also diminishes the absorption OF Microscopic
fluid. Tho sulphurous acid is, therefore. anti
septic in its action, as Il: preserves the organic
heterogeneous combinations in an unchanged
form and withdraws water, which is a necessary
condition OF decomposition. To this must be
added the protection, which the sulphurouS
acid, passing through the hops, gives to the hop
oil and hop resin. against the oxidating action
OF the oxygen of the air. with which it CON-
bnes to sulphuric acid
Liebig says:
The advantage of treating with sulphur Is so
great, that if il were not in use, and its value
had not been confirmed by experience the dis
ccovery OF smoking with sulphur would have to
be considered rs one of the greatest and most
important acquisitions in the brewing OF beer.
Wenever burn sulphur on the hop stoves.
1t should be burned slowly and during the
whole period of drying, equal to at least
eighty pounds of the crude sulphur to the
ton OF dry hops, or, what is the equivalent,
one pound to the box.
To get the best effect from the use of sui
phur. deep floors are laid. During the
first few days of the season the floorings
are laid from twenty to thirty inches in
depth, according to the condition or rather
ripeness of the hops. As the season adj
vances the depth is increased until we
very frequently lay foorings fully three
feet deep. and which are never stirred.