A METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PACKING AND PRESERVING HOPS
Year: 1820

page_text: TO ALL TO. WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN.
VALLANCE, of Brighton, in the County of Sussex, Brewer, send greeting.
WHEREAS His most Excellent Majesty King George the Fourth did,.
by His Letters Patent under the Great Seal of that part of the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland called England, bearing date at West-
minster, the Twentieth day of June, in the first year of His reign, give and.
grant unto me, the said John Vallance, my exors, adiñiors, and assigns, His
especial licence, full power, sole privilege and authority, that I, the said John
Vallance, my exors, adñiors, and assigns, during the term of years therein.
mentioned, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within
England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Invention of "A
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PACKING AND PRESERVING HOPS;" in which said
Letters Patent there is contained a proviso that if I, the said John Vallance,
shall not particularly describe and ascertain the nature of my said Inven-.
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, by an instrument
in writing under my hand and seal, and cause the same to be inrolled in
His Majesty High Court of Chancery within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent, that then the said Letters,
Patent, and, all liberties and advantages whatsoever thereby granted, shall
utterly cease, determine, and become void, as in and by the same, relation being
thereunto had, will more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
John Vallance, do hereby declare that the said Invention, and the manner in
which the same is to be performed, are particularly described and ascertained

page_text: in and by the Drawings nereumo
that is to say:-
*
2
It is well known that hops, if kept for a plurality of years, become deterio-
rated in quality, and I have found that if kept for a considerable number of
years (say five or six), their imbittering and preservative properties so pass of
and are lost, as renders them (compared with their original state) nearly worth-
less. Now I have ascertained by experience that this deterioration as to quality,
and passing off, and loss of properties, arises principally. from the action of the
atmosphere ou, them, owing to the way in which they are packed and preserved
as an article of commerce, which is, by putting and treading them into a kind
(or rather kinds) of sacking called bagging and pocketting of a very coarse and
open texture, wholly incapable of admitting our availing ourselves of the
opportunities that the means of compression we possess offer, of putting the
hops into the least possible space (and covering) into which they can be put,
but little better calculated to prevent the contact of the atmosphere with their
contents, and not more capable of preserving them from the depredations of
vermin; and in consequence of these defects, the cause of injuries arising to
the hops from the atmosphere, from the predatory incursions of the "tailed and
whiskered" tribes, and from the casualties of transportation, whether inland or
over seas, and also occasionally and particularly when they are under carriage
whether by lands or water, occasionally productive of considerable inconvenience
from the space that this bulky method of package causes them to require and take
up: This is the way in which hops are put up and packed for the market and an
article of commerce, and it is in this state only, and (in the language of the hop
market) as bags or pockets," that the transfer of and transactions relative to to
them take place, and are referred to by the factors and their customers, whether
sellers or buyers. Not that there is no other way of preserving them known,
there having for these hundred years past been occasionally followed a practice
of preserving them in casks instead of in. bags r pockets. But this practice,
though so leng 'known, and although admitted to be decidedly best
the preservation of the article, is, owing to circumstances which operate as
counteractive of its preservative superiorities, so little acted upon, that, with refe-
rence to hops in the market, and as an article of commerce and extensive
transfer, it may be said to be unknown, being so confined to the domestic
observances of the economizing mistresses of some farmhouses, that, though
hops have fallen under my almost daily observation for these twenty years, I
have never either myself seen or heard of hops in casks being on the market,
or met with anyone else who had, and that they are never mentioned or
referred to either in the communications of hop factors to their correspondents
or
.
to

page_text: account
or in the occasional quotations of the public papers as to the current prices of
hops is well known. Why, the case should be thus, and why that which is uni-
versally admitted to be, as to effect, decidedly the best way, should be so little,
while the less efficiently preservative methods of bagging and pocketting should
be, so universally followed, I have never either; myself been able to a
for, or met with anyone else who could account for it, otherwise than by
supposing it must be owing to the great difference of expence, between them,
since, as the methods, of bagging and pocketting are in every particulars
excepting in that of expence, as to which indeed they have most markedly the
advantage, costing, perhaps not more than one tenth what putting them in casks
(as they are now put in them) would come to, but as, with the exception of
this, they are in every particular decidedly inferior to that of casking, I know,
not, nor have met with others who know, what else it could be that should have
caused the one to be generally followed and the other (excepting as a branch
of domestic economy, and by here and there an economizing housekeeper)...
generally neglected. Seeing this, then, and that the only assignable preventa
tive to the general adoption of a practice superior to bagging and pocketting;
as is the putting hops in casks, is the greater first cost of it, and looking also at
the injury which is (not by here, and there an individual, but by so large a
portion of the community as will well admit of its being said); nationally
sustained from the defects of the practice of bagging and..pocketting, hops, I
have been caused to conceive that it would be a public benefit if the expence
of casking" could be so reduced, as should put it in the power and the method
of it so arranged as should render it (compatibly with the expedition and general
requisites of the hop harvest) practicable for hop growers to preserve their pro-
duce in this way instead of in bags or pockets; and as on going into the subject
'
1
perceived that it possessed, though in a. latent state, practicabilities and
facilities capable of elaboration into the advantage of all interested in hops:
such as the enabling our so putting them up or packing, them, as: in the first
place to take up, not half (or it may be not one fourth the room they do now,
an advantage which will not be inconsiderable as to the mere disposal of them
in store, and of importance with reference to the carriage of them from place to
place; 2dly, so as to be in the long run. absolutely cheaper than bagging or
pocketting them, as not only can three or four times, as many be put into a
covering of the same dimensions as a bag or pocket, but also has that covering.
such advantages as to permanence of value and subsequent convertibility, as
will render it in the long run decidedly cheapest; and in the third place, so as
to be beyond comparison more efficient as to that principal end and aim of
packing, hops, the keeping, the air from them, as to which indeed the advantage
"

page_text: is so great as that not only can we become possessed of the evident superiorities
which in this particular "casking "hops possesses over bagging them, but also
may we attain the advantage of, as it were, hermetically sealing them, and of
placing them absolutely out of the reach of the atmosphere, and utterly beyond
the sphere of its action and influence whenever we think proper to make use
of the means I have devised for attaining this end, and, in consequence of this,
be enabled in all expectation to keep them as long as we please, perhaps half
a centry even, without their being damaged. As on going into the subject I
perceived that it possessed, though in a latent state, practicabilities and facilities
capable of elaboration into these advantages, I followed it up till I am enabled
to hold out to the grower of hops what shall put it in his power much more
efficiently and in the long run more cheaply to put up and preserve his pro-
duce than bagging and pocketting will admit; to the factor what shall supply
him with his article of commerce in a state so much more close, compact, and
less bulky, as it will cause it to require not half (if one fourth) the space it
now takes up when in store, so much more effectually secured against the
injurious changes which the atmosphere operates on hops kept in bagging or
pocketting as will admit of his holding them as long as he pleases without
their quality's being much (if at all) deteriorated, and much better adapted for,
and far better secured against the risks and casualties of transportation; and to
the brewer what shall bring to his hop-loft the preservative of his production
in a state secure from the depredations of vermin, and that will not only admit
his so storing up the abundent growths we some years have, as will render
them, not as is now the case but little better than dried leaves by the time
they have been kept five or six years, but will enable his, putting them into his
copper but little or perhaps not at all injured, even by a dozen years keeping.
These are the advantages which the claboration of the subject of "casking "
hops enables me to hold out; and the method or methods & apparatus by
which I attain these advantages, and pack and preserve hops, are as follows:-The
envelopes, coverings, cases, or vessels in which I put hops, are made of wood
or of metal, and are of whatever shape, size, appearance, and construction cir-
cumstances may render desirable; and as it appears to have been only the expence
attendant on "casking" which has prevented its coming into general use,-by
expence I mean, not merely first cost, but those additional charges which would
arise from the carriage of the casks from the maker of them and the con-
sumer of the article packed in them. to the grower, the warehouse room they
would require when empty, and the wages of the coopers to head them
up, &c., &c., &c. as it would appear to be only the expence of it which has
prevented casking from coming into general use, what I have principally in

page_text: view in preparing these envelopes, coverings, cases, or vessels is, the as much as
possible lessening the expence of them, and this I do by arranging such a
method of construction as will admit of envelopes, coverings, cases, or vessels
to receive hops, being prepared in the first instance without much labour or
expence (compared with that of casks); secondly, so as that they may be put
together, and made up into coverings or cases by the common day labouring or
farming men who are employed about hops during the packing season, instead
of requiring coopers to put them together; and which, in the third place, shall
possess such capabilities and facilities as to carriage and stowage as will prevent
these circumstances much countervailing the advantages which may be
derived from the adoption of my methods. The way in which I attain these
ends, as to vessels, cases, or coverings of wood, is this:-I have prepared (of
cast iron and either in one or more lengths) a hollow hexagonal vessel, of
about eighteen feet long and of about two feet in diameter or internal width,.
which vessel is of any convenient thickness, and so fitted with eaves or flanges,
or flanches on the outside, as that it may be bolted to upright posts or pieces.
of timber standing perpendicularly. This vessel which, for brevity's sake, I call
the "filler," may be of the same thickness for its whole length, excepting that,
end which is to be lowest when it is fixed to the timbers, which for about
a quarter of an inch (lengthwise the filler) is to be so reduced (on the outside)
as shall render it only about one eighth of an inch thick for that quarter of an
inch, which will leave the filler of the same diameter or caliber throughout, but
so diminished on the outside (at the bottom) as for it to be there half, three
quarters of, or a whole inch thinner than the rest of it, according to what is the
thickness of the filler. This filler I now have so fixed to pieces of timber of
about a foot square (or larger) forming (as shewn by the Drawing annexed,
a parallelogram of about thirty feet long and three or four wide (in the
clear) as to hang it about six feet six inches above the bottom piece of that
parallelogram or frame, with its centre exactly under and in a line or concentric
with the centre of the screw, shewn passing through the upper piece of the
frame. When this is done I have prepared two end pieces or heads, each of
a shape the same as and of a width that will just go into and pass down the
filler, which heads are composed of two thicknesses of boards, each about one;
inch, and put and well nailed together with the grain of one thickness crossing
that of the other at a right angle. One of these heads I now place on the...
bottom piece of the frame, or rather not on but over it, as this bottom piece
has fixed to it on each side a picce of timber about six inches square, and two.
or three feet long, the purpose of which pieces of timber is to form a firm base,
on which what are called "parallel" wedges may be driven, which wedges are

page_text: case
and
to have over them a thick and widé piece of plank, on which the lead and
of hops are to stand, and which is to be by the wedges raised or lowered,
according as it may be wished to adjust the vessel into which the hops are to
go to the bottom of the filler. On this piece of plank then (and which I call the
"accommodator") instead of on the bottom piece of the frame, I now place one
of the heads so as that its centre may be exactly under and concentric with that
of the screw and filler above, and also so as that its angles are under and
exactly in a line and corresponding with the angles of the filler. As soon
as this is done I take a board (prepared beforehand) of about an inch thick
by six feet long, and of the same width as the sides of the filler, and place it
(perpendicularly) with one end against one of 'the sides of the head placed on'
the accommodator, and
with the other against one of the sides of that thin part
of the filler which projects and hangs down a quarter of an inch below the
rest of it an
so placing it as that it may form as it were a continuation of
that side of the filler against which it is placed. I there retain it by a thumb
screw with a very wide head or shoulder, like an immense button, which goes
into the side of the filler near the bottom, just to hold the board up for
awhile. When this is done I put up another" board against another of the
sides of the filler above and the head below, and retain it in its place in the samé
manner; and this I continue doing till boards, corresponding to the sides of
the hexagonal vessel or filler above, are so placed as to form another hexagon
of wood below it. About this lower hexagon or wood vessel I now put two or
three chains of such lengthis as to go nearly round it, and so made (by having
a nut and long screw bolt at their ends, as that they may compress and draw
tight together the boards of the vessel, and then uniting the nuts and screws
so as to make these chains form as it were flexible hoops round the vessel, and
Working the screws till the boards are drawn tightly and close together?
I fix and retain them so by putting pieces of hooping" round the vessel, at the
distance of about every six inches or foot (according to the quantity of hops I
intend to force into the vessel), where I retain and cause them to bind
and hold together the sides of the vessel, thus putting one end of a piece of the
hooping about the middle of one of the boards, I drive nails through and fix
it there; I then bend the hooping round the vessel, causing it to set and
adapt itself to the shape of it, till I get all round the vessel; when 'fixing the
end of it, as I did the beginning (causing the ends to pass and as it were
overlap each other, the vessel is circumscribed by what has the effect and
answers the purpose of a hoop, though it is
I drive nails through the 'sides of this vessel
forms the bottom of it, which nails answer the purposes of both holding the
:
not one." When this is done
into the edge of the head that'

page_text: or
sides to the head and of keeping the head in the sides. Into the vessel thus
prepared and held together I now put 'hops, dried and cured, as usual, (or it
may be after they have been packed in bags pockets, my methods being
équal practicable by the factors and other purchasers of hops, as it is by the
growers of them), tumbling them into it through the filler above, and. treading:
them as. they are trod into bags and pockets, or as nearly so as circumstances
will admit; and this I continue doing till the vessel below is full, and till the
filler is one third, two thirds, or- quite full, according to the quantity, whether
twice, thrice, or more times, what treading would get into it.. I intend to
force into the vessel below, when placing on the hops, the other of the heads;
whose preparation has been described, and working the nut of the screw
shewn passing through the upper piece of the frame (which. piéce is wider>
than the others on account of the nut and screw's passing through it, and
which screw has at the bottom of it a head, platten, or as it were piston, that!
will just go into and down the filler): "I force the whole of the hops that are in
both vessels down into the lower one, to such a distance as that. nails may be
drive through the top of the sides of the wood vessel in which the liops now!
are into the head that was put on them; and when this is securely donėt
I'slack the screw and draw the wedges from under the accommodator on which
the wood vessel stands till it can be removed: from-under the filler; wlien:
(should not be satisfied with the joint made by the mere junction or coming!
together of the boards, 'I pour into the joints or crevices, between the sides!
and ends, or heads of it, (and into the side joints also;). a lute for luting!
composed of pitch or rosin, that has been previously somewhat softened, atid
toughened in texture by the addition of a little tallow while in fusion; and
having this (or any such other composition as will answer the purpose)
só formed, and at such a temperature as will cause it to.run into and fill those?
joints, there is a vessel or case of hops so packed, closed, and as it were liermė->
tically sealed, as will not only keep them far better, and cause them' to 'take:
up much less room' when in store than bagging or pocketting" theni would!
cause them to require, but also, owing to the quantity that may thus be igot!
into it (twice, thrice, or more times what treading would get in, according to
the height of the filler, the quantity trod into it before the screw is. 'used, {
&c., &c., &c.), is perhaps even here cheaper than bagging or pocketing, if the
expence of the frame, screw, &c. be left out of the consideration; but, however,
if it is not in the present instance cheapest, it will (fraine and all taken into i
account). within a few years become so, as, independant of the increased price's
which hops thus packed would fetch, there is the worth of the case to be
taken. into consideration; and as this would, owing to its convertibility either.:

page_text: to the same purposes again or to the uses of jobbing carpenters, &c., return
perhaps half its first cost, the balance of expence would, I expect, soon be in
favor of this method. This is one of the ways in which I proceed to pack
hops, and for it vessels or cases of any size, shape, and construction may be
made use of; all that is necessary being an adaptation of the filling and com-
pressing apparatus, the vessel beneath it into which the hops are to be pressed,
the boards that are to compose the sides of that vessel, and the heads or end
pieces to each other, and to the shape the vessel or case of hops is to be,
when furnished with other consequent and "of course" alterations and adapta-
tions too evident to need particularizing.
Another of the ways in which I pack hops is this:-I have a post or piece of
timber fixed (perpendicularly) to the middle of the bottom piece of the frame
of timber shewn in the Drawing, so as to stand upright, where the wood
hexagonal vessel or case, the process of filling which has been described, stood
while being filled; which post or piece of timber is to be of the same shape as,
of a little greater length and a little less diameter or thickness than, the case of
hops is to be when finished; at such a height above the top the top of
this post as is about equal to what is to be the length of the case of hops I
have now fixed the filler, which filler is to have the screw above it, as before,
and to be of the same shape and diameter or internal width as the case of
hops. I have then prepared, of wood or metal, a vessel triangular, circular, a
parallelogram, polygonal, &c., &c., &c., according to the Figure; the case of
hops is to be smooth on the inside, and of the same length and diameter or
internal width as that case, and which will just go on to, slip down, and cover
the post or upright piece of timber fixed to the bottom piece of the frame.
With these things prepared I proceed thus:-I take the vessel that slips down
over the post, and raise it till its top is up to the bottom of the filler, when I
drive three or four stout nails into the post under it to hold it up, and so adjust
and fix the top of it as that its sides are exactly in a line or perpendicular with the
sides of the filler, when I drop into it a head, such as was before described, which
head falls down to and rests upon the top of the post; into the filler, and the
vessel thus placed beneath it, I now put and tread hops, as before, and then,
putting another head on them, I press them, as before, through and from the
filler into the vessel below till the head that was put on them is below the bottom
of the filler, when, drawing out of the post the nails that hold up the vessel the
hops are in, I cause this vessel to slip down over the post and leave the hops
standing, like as it were a cheese or column on the top of the post, where
they stand and are kept by the conjoint effect of the pressure that is on them
and their own adhesive property or tendancy, Round them I now put up the

page_text: staves or pieces that are to compose the sides of the case, and, nailing them.
top and bottom to the heads, there is a case of hops of whatever shape the
vessel that slips over the post was made. Slacking the screw, I now take.
them off the post, and hoop and seal or lute them as before, excepting that,
owing to its not being possible perhaps to get as it were a cheese or column of
hops so thick or high as a case can be got by the method first described, it
may not be necessary to put so many hoops on.
This is another of the ways in which I pack hops; and should it be,
wished to put them into casks, such as butts, puncheons, hogsheads, barrels,
&c., &c., &c., the way I then proceed is as follows:-I have the filler or
cylinder, whose diameter is just that of the description of cask it is in-,
tended to fill at the chimb, and twice, thrice, or more times the length of.
the cask, according to the quantity, whether twice, thrice, or more times,
what treading would have got into the cask that it is intended to force into it..
The bottom of the filler is in this case so finished as that it may fit and.
go somewhat into the top of the cask, so as that when the top of the cask is
brought close up to it the bottom of it may correspond to the bevel or cut
of the chimb, or ends of the staves of the cask. The cask (with a head put in
one of its ends as usual, and with the other end open, and also having a
circular board under it, and within its chimb, of a thickness equal at least to
the depth of the chimb), is now to be placed under the filler, with its open
end upward, and (by wedges driven under the accommodator it stands on) raised
close, and so carefully up to it as for the inner periphery of its chimb to be
in a line and corresponding with that of the bottom of the filler. It then
has hops put into it as before described, and when it and the filler are full,
a head (either in one piece and thickness, or of crossed boards as before men-
tioned), is put on the hops, and by the screw driven with the hops beneath.
down into the cask to such a distance as that the head may be about an
inch below the tops of the staves, when I drive nails through the staves into
the head and there secure it. Removing it now from under the filler, and
having poured into the crevice or joint, between the head and the staves, the
luting or sealing before mentioned, the cask is secured and done with.
Another of the ways in which I proceed as to the packing hops in
common casks, or in the wood vessels or cases first mentioned, is by the
vessel which I have
dispensing with the use of, and doing without the
termed the filler, thus:-Having the head, platten, or piston at the end of
the screw made so as just to go into the chimb or end of the cask or case,
I have some hops put into it, and then (either with or without their being
previously trod) working the screw, press them into as thin a stratum as the

page_text: ་་
..
".
:
power applied to the screw enables being done, and, after this is done, raising
the piston, I put in more, and serve them in the same manner; and this I keep
on doing till the cask or case is full, when I put in a head (of crossed boards
or otherwise, as in the last instance); and secure and lute it as I have
described. There are other known ways of closing cases or casks; which' I
follow whenever circumstances may render them more convenient than these
I have described, and I occasionally (whenever incidental circumstances, such
as the dry or good state & condition' of the wood, the closeness of the joint,
and the general good construction and coming and fitting together of the
boards or pieces of the hexagonal vessel or case; &c., &c., &c., cause me to
deem it expedient) altogether dispense with & do without the luting or
method of as it were hermetically sealing which I have described, or; instead
of making use of it, I close the joints of the vessels or cases by driving tightly"
into & caulking them with hemp, tow, or anything that will answer the purpose
of preventing communication between the air & the contents of the case; or
I put and fix (on the insides) against the side joints of the vessels or cases a
slip or strip of paper, or tin or thin metals (or anything that will answer the
purpose), so as to cover the joint, and be interposed between the contents of
the vessel or case & the atmosphere. These are the methods I take as to
packing hops in vessels of wood; and as the first of these methods possesses
the advantages of"
f" easy and cheap construction," convenient and but. little
expensive stowage, and portability when einpty, repeated applicability to the
same purpose, and may be made to hold a quantity of hops great according to
the compressing power made use of, possessing these advantages, it might be
expected to come into very general use. But great as are the advantages
this method holds out, I have to describe another which possesses more, and
which, owing to tlie durability of the material or envelope made use of, and
its imporous and impervious nature, is considered by me as decidedly superior
to what I have been describing. This superior method consists in putting
and packing hops in envelopes, coverings, cases, or vessels of metal, tlie
imporous nature of which and the as it were hermetically scaling of the joints
and closings of the vessel or case, enables iny attaining the desideratum of
placing the hops "ábsolutely out of the reach of the atmosphere, and utterly
beyond the sphere of its action and influence," and which the porosity of wood,
and its liability to swell with a damp, and shrink and crack with a dry
atmosphere, would in a degree prevent. To thus put and pack hops in
envelopes, cases, or vessels of metal (of which any sort, whether iron, copper,"
lead, &c., may be made use of), I proceed as follows: What I have princi-
pally in view here also is, the as much as possible lessening the expence of

page_text: the envelope, case, or vessel; and the way in which I attain this end is, as
was done by the wood-cases, by so arranging their construction as that they
may-neither require much labour as to their first preparation, nor be what
common day labouring men, and such as are employed about hops during the
picking season, could not put together after they are prépared. The way in which
Iattain these ends is this I have the filler or cylinder of twenty-two inches
and a quarter diameter fixed and situated as 'in the case first mentioned,. and
then, by any convenient method of working sheet iron, I have two sheets of
it, each about six feet long by three wide, so wronght into a semi-circular. ör.
rather semi-cylindrical shape, as for them each to be a little more.than the
half of a cylinder of the same diameter as the filler by about 'six feet! along.
In the side edges of these semi-cylindrical pieces, at about six inches (or more
or less) apart, and near the edge, I have rivet holes so carefully made and
situated, as that when these semi-cylindrical pieces are (as they will by and
by-be) put together to form a cylinder, these lioles may correspond to each
öther, aind receive rivets to hold the pieces together: I then have prepared (of
crossed boards, &c. as before);, two circular licads, each rather: less than twenty-
two inches and a quarter diameter: With these preparations made I proceed
thus I place one of the wood heads on the accommodator, with its centre
in the line of the centre' of or concentric with the filler, and then put against
it, and against the thin projecting or rather pendent part of the bottom of the
filler, one of the semi-cylindrical pieces of sheet iron, and their cause it to
stand, by a thumbscrew; as before mentioned; opposite to it; I then put up
the other and stand it in the same way. Through the holes that were made
in the sides I now put soft copper or iron rivets, so as to unite these two semi-
cylindrical pieces of sheet iron, and make them fast by a man on the inside
holding a heavy hammer against them, while one on the outside rivets thenï;
which being done, the semi-cylindrical pieces are formed into a cylinder;
when this is done, I drive nails through holes (made before for that purpose)
in the lower end or side of the semi-cylindrical pieces, into the wood head;
and when this is done I fill the cylinder and filler with hops, as has been before
described, and then; putting the other head on them, work the screw, &c., &c.;
and when the hops are pressed into the cylinder, driving nails; through holes
(made before) in the side or upper end of it, into the head that is put upon
the hops, and then, slacking the screw, drawing the wedges," "and removing
it from beneath the receiver, I pour' into the joints the lute or luting before
mentioned; and this being well and efficiently done; there is a case or package
of hops, which, notwithstanding that they are 'in metal, and so situated as to
be absolutely out of the reach of the atmosphere, and that they may be kept
T:

page_text: for perhaps twenty years without being injured, it does not require skill and
ability beyond that of common labouring men to put together (the first pre-
paration of the case or vessel being of course by competent workmen) after
they have once been shewn the method of doing it. Or it may be, that, instead
of putting the semi-cylindrical pieces together, as I have described, under the
filler, I put them together and form them into a cylinder before they are put
beneath the filler, the end and object of their being so prepared by the work-
men who manufactured them as to admit of anybody's putting them together
after once seeing it done, being to convenience and benefit the growers of
hops; for as cases such as these may be used many times, and as this will
cause their being returned to the growers again, had they been wrought into
cylinders in the first instance, and not so made as that they may easily be
converted either into a cylinder or into two semi-cylindrical pieces, as then,
when being sent from the manufacturer to the grower, &c., &c., they would,
notwithstanding that they were empty, take up as much room as if they were
full, the thus moving them about would be attended with considerable
expence, owing to the room they would take up; whereas by the method I
have described, and in consequence of which the brewer can as easily take
the case to pieces as the grower can put it together, and as when taken to
pieces it will not require one tenth part of the room it does when together,
thus to accomodate the grower and consumer as to the carriage and stowage
of the empty cases, I have arranged the method of putting together, which
I have described, and as provided this principle of convenient construction,
portability, and stowage be provided for, it is wholly immeterial what is the
shape and construction of the vessel or case, I, whenever desirable, have them
triangular, quadrilateral, polygonal, &c., &c., &c., and longer or shorter, and
of greater or less diameter, and with their sides either in one, two, or more
pieces according to convenience. The same thing applies also to the wood
cases first mentioned, which will go in very much less compass when taken
to pieces, than when together, and as their construction is so arranged as
admits their being as soon (or I think sooner) put together as taken to pieces,
their being carried and transported about is of course very much facilitated,
and the expence of it much reduced. As was observed, too, with reference to
cases of wood, is also to be observed as to cases of metal, viz, that vessels or
cases of any size, shape, and construction may be made use of, all that is
necessary being an adaptation of the filling and compressing apparatus, the
vessel or case beneath it into which the hops are to be pressed, the pieces
that are to compose the side or sides of the vessel or case, and the heads or
end pieces to each other, and to the shape the case of hops is to be when

page_text: finished, with other consequent and "of course
"alterations and adaptations
to evident to need particularizing. Or it may be, that, instead of having the
metallic cases so as to be put together by those who pack the hops, I have
them made and permanently composed into vessels of whatever shape and
construction (whether wrought or cast metal) may be convenient, by those
who first prepared them, according to any of the common and well-known
methods of working metals. And, whenever more convenient, I pack hops
in metallic vessels also, without using the filler, proceeding with them as I
have stated with reference to wood vessels in the same case. Also do I
occasionally. dispense with the frame to which in the Drawing the filler and
screw are shewn fixed, and fix and attach the filler and screw to the beam
or beams of a barn hovel, or any other building should circumstances render
it more convenient so to do; also do I, when convenient, have the filler of
only the same length as the vessel or case of hops is to be, in which case
the frame to which the filler is fixed is shortened accordingly, and the process'
of filling thus varied; that is, instead of forcing at one time into the case or
cask the whole quantity of hops that is to be in it, I force into it a quantity
short of this, according to the length of the filler, so that to get in three or
more times what treading would get into it, I am obliged repeatedly to charge
and empty the filler into it. And whenever it is desirable I employ other
means of pressure than the screw, as the hydraulic press or racks and
corresponding machinery, or any other convenient means, it being wholly
immeterial what are the means of pressure employed, so as the end of forcing
the hops into whatever space we please is attained. Such are the methods
I take, and from the principle of these methods, which principle is the so
putting up hops as adnits (either in the first instance, or after they have
been packed in bags or pockets) of our compressing and closely packing them,
not only to that degree which treading gives, but to whatever degree beyond
it we choose, and also from preventing (whenever I deem it adviseable to make
use of the luting or means by which this absolute prevention is effected) all
communication between them and the atmosphere, and consequently all
evolation or evaporation from them into it, keeps and preserves them; from
this principle I depart not. But as the observing and acting up to this prin-
ciple admits of trifling variations from the letter of the methods I have
described, without any departure from the spirit of them, I alter and vary
as to shape, size, construction, (both in the first instance, and as to
how I enable those who are not mechanically or manufacturingly brought
up, such as common husbandmen, &c., to put them together,) apparatus
for filling, means of compression, arrangements for securing, method of

page_text: luting, or, as it were, hermetically sealing, &c., &c.,, &c., as circumstances
dictate, the principle of my Invention being a method of, so packing hops
as shall admit of our putting into any vessel or case, whether wood or metal,
either the greatest: quantity it is anyhow possible to force and press into it,
or, a quantity short of this, according to the proportion that circumstances may,
dictate, and the (whenever I deem it desirable) so closing and securing
vessels or cases of hops as shall have the effect of hermetically sealing them,
or interpose between the atmosphere and, their contents substances of such
a nature as shall, be efficient to, the prevention of communication between
those contents and the atmosphere. To any exclusive right of putting and
merely treading hops into common casks, and of keeping the air from them,
either by covers similar to those of flour or pork tubs, being laid on and put
over them; as is done by those, notable and economizing housekeepers with
whom "casking" is in use, or by heads. put into the cask according
to the ways in which coopers, head casks up, I make no claim, because
this right has been common and free to any one I know not how long.
But to the method, or methods of close and air-tight, package, which I
have described, and by which what is now only a domestic practice may
be, so reduced; in expence as to admit of its being advantageously taken
up and generally acted upon, consistently with the requisites and dispatch
of, business, rendered commercially and nationally beneficial, and avail
able to the interests of the hop growing, hop dealing, and hop consuming
portions of the community, inasmuch as, they will enable the former to
pack and preserve; his produce far more efficiently, in very much (to what
degree indeed he pleases) less compass, and (in the long run) more cheaply;
will 'furnish the factor with his article of commerce, in a state much less
bulky, and far better adapted for and secured against the risks and casualties
of transportation, whether inland or over seas, and this independant of the
superior condition in which it will enable his delivering it to hand, particularly
when the voyage or land carriage' occasions exposure to alterations of weather,
and will bring to the hop-loft and copper of the brewer the preservative of his
production 'secure from the depredations; of vermin, and in. a much more com
pact, effective, and. advantageous condition, to the method or methods, by
following which, these advantages (either wholly or in part) will arise to
that considerable portion of the community who are interested in hops,
I claim an exclusive right. And as the reduced expence (compared with the
cost of casks) at which wood cases or coverings such as I have described can
be made, may occasionally, render, it desirable so to do, I take advantage of it
to preserve hops that have been packed in bags or pockets longer than they

page_text: would otherwise keep, by putting them (when in the bag or pocket), in an
envelope, case, covering, or, vessel of wood; thus I shorten and reduce the
length of the bag or pocket by any of the processes that are followed for what
is called "straining or pressing" hops. (by means of a large screw, similar to
those used for raising or righting ships for instance), placing (before the
mechanical means, by which the bag or pocket is compressed. are exerted,) at
each end of the bag or pocket (and against the head or end of the screw
at one end, and against the butment or whatever it may be which resisting
the pressure of the screw causes the bag or pocket to collapse or shorten, at the
other),, a head of cross boards or otherwise, and circular or of whatever, shape
convenience may dictate, of a diameter so much greater than what is the then
diameter of the bag or pocket as will be equal to what will, be its diameter
after it is, compressed; and then, when the bag or pocket is." strained;" pressed,"
and shortened enough, I place boards, (rather longer than the bag or pocket).
against it and against the heads or end pieces that are at each end of it, and
nailing them to these heads, fix them there, and having such, a number of
boards and of such widths as will just go round the heads and cover the bag,
or pocket without leaving any other interstice between the boards than the
crevice or joint between them, and binding, circumscribing, and holding
together these boards (by hooping) as has before been described, and then
(should I deem it necessary). closing both the side and end joints, either by,
the luting or composition which has been described or as was otherwise men-
tioned, communication between the bag or packet and the atmosphere is so cut
off and prevented as will keep and preserve the hops longer and better, than if
this envelope, covering, or case of wood had not been put around them.; Or
it may be, that, instead of proceeding this way with bags or pockets, I ❝ strain,”
press," or shorten them in the usual way, and, after they are so done, proceed
thus with them have two heads, prepared (such as have before been
described) of a diameter the same as the bags or pockets after they are strained
or pressed, and of whatever shape may be convenient. One of these heads. I,
now lay flat on the ground or floor, by the side, of, a post, which, reaching from
the floor, it stands, on to the floor above, is caused, temporarily and for a
while to stand perpendicularly by any of
of the various methods., by which, such
an effect may be brought about. On this head I then put one of the bags, or
pockets, placing it perpendicularly, and causing it to stand so by a small cord
put round it and tied to the post. On the top of the bag or pocket, so placed
and held upright I now put another, and cause it to stand there by a couple of
small cords, one near the top and the other, near the bottom, tied round it and
L
4.

page_text: the post. On this uppermost bag or pocket I now place a head, similar to
that under the lower one, and then put against the two and against the heads
which are on and over them a board of such length as to reach from the
under side of the bottom head to the upper side of the top one. Through the
ends of this board I now drive nails, and so fix it to the heads at top and
bottom, and then put up and fix another and similar board in the same way;
and this I continue doing till the bags or pockets are surrounded by boards,
except on that side or part where the post they were tied to and held upright
by stands when, untying and pulling out the cords by which the bags or
pockets were tied to the post, and drawing the bolts, or loosening whatever
may be the fastenings by which this post was fixed upright, I take it down,
and putting against that part of each head which touched it another board, of
such a width as just to fill up the vacancy that is there left, and nailing and
fastening that board (and then hooping) as before described, the two bags or
pockets of hops are enclosed in an envelope, covering, case, or vessel of wood,
which, the joints of it being (should I deem it necessary) luted or otherwise
closed, as has before been described, will preserve the hops longer and better
than if they had been in bags or pockets only. The reason why I thus put
more than one bag or pocket into one case is to lessen the expence of it, and to
increase the probable convertibility of the case after the bags or pockets are
taken out of it; since, as each case would require only two ends, where it to
have a dozen bags or pockets in it, and as the same two ends are necessary
when it has only one in it, and also as the shorter the boards used for thus
enveloping, casing, or covering bags or pockets the less the value they would
afterwards bring, and vice versa, thus, to economize material, I put one, or
more than one, bag or pocket into a case, envelope, or covering of wood, accord-
ing as convenience dictates, having the cases, coverings, or envelopes triangular,
circular, quadrilateral, or polygonal, &c., &c., as the width of the boards of which
they are composed renders desirable, and putting the bags or pockets into these
envelopes, cases, or coverings, cither when they are standing perpendicularly or
lying horizontally as convenience may dictate. And when I wish to put bags
or pockets of hops in covers, cases, envelopes, or vessels of metal, I proceed
thus-The bag or pocket is strained or pressed as usual, and then put into
a cylinder (made in any convenient way) of iron or any other metal.
Into this cylinder are then put heads, such as have been described, which
heads are there fastened and luted, as has also been described. Or, instead of
putting the bag or pocket into a cylinder, I put two semi-cylindrical pieces
of metal round it, and then nail them to the heads placed at the top and bottom

page_text: of the bag or pocket, sealing, luting, or otherwise stopping the side and end
joint. Or it may be, that; instead of luting, sealing, or closing the joints of
the envelopes, coverings, cases, or vessels, in which I put hops, as has yet been
:described, I close them thus:-When the boards, pieces, or staves which
compose the side or sides of the vessel are put up or together to form-the side
or sides, I put between them a piece or strip (about an inch wide, and of such
length as is equal to the length of the boards, side pieces, or staves,) of what is
called list or listing (which list or listing is the rough edge or border cut off
from woollen cloths) in the joint, and between the edges of the boards, staves,
or side pieces, and so placing this list or listing against the edge or thickness
of one staff, board, or side piece as for the next to press it to it; and this next
staff, board, or side piece being pushed close home to the one that is already up
and fixed, the list or listing is interposed between them for their whole length.
Now the effect of this strip of list or listing is in a degree to close and to render
partially air-tight the joint in and along which it is thus placed, owing to its
elastic or spungy nature causing it to force itself into and partially to fill up the
fissures or minute interstices there may be in the edges of the boards, staves, or
side pieces. And should I not be satisfied with the joint made by this list or listing,
I pour into the joint and cover the listing either with the lute or luting I have
described, or with anything else that will answer the purpose of rendering the joint
air-tight. Also may the strip interposed between the boards, staves, or side pieces
be other than listing, as canvas, cloth, or anything that will answer the purpose,
and as, provided the communication of the air with them be prevented, it
is wholly immaterial what is the method taken to evelope, cover, or case bags
or pockets of hops in or with wood or metal, and as there are ways of doing
it other than these I have described, I alter and vary (as to mere method)
as circumstances may render desirable, so as the principle of interposing
between the bag or pocket of hops and the atmosphere an envelope, case, or
covering, which (whenever I am not satisfied with the joint made by the mere
junction or coming together of the boards, staves, or side pieces, can be rendered
air-tight by the methods of luting or closing I have described), may prevent
evolation or evaporation from the bag or pocket into the atmosphere, is not
departed from.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Vallance (party hereto), have here-
unto set my hand and seal this Fourteenth day of December, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and twenty.
JOHN (L.S.) VALLANCE.
D

page_text: ALTREE,
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Fourteenth day of December,
in the year of our Lord 1820, the aforesaid John Vallance came before our
said Lord the King in His Chancery, and acknowledged the Specification
aforesaid, and all and every thing therein contained and specified in form above
written. And also the Specification aforesaid was stampt according to the
tenor of the Statute made for that purpose.