IMPROVEMENTS IN PRESERVING GRAIN AND IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE GRANARIES TO CONTAIN THE SAME
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Antoine Martin, of Nantes, in the Empire of France,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN PRESERVING GRAIN AND IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF THE GRANARIES TO CONTAIN THE SAME."
Sealed the 27th August 1867, and dated the 22nd May 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Antoine Martin at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 22nd
May 1867.
I, ANTOINE MARTIN, of Nantes, in the Empire of France, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN PRESERVING
GRAIN AND IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE GRANARIES TO CONTAIN THE SAME," to
be as follows:-
This Invention of "Improvements in Preserving Grain and in the Con-
struction of the Granaries to contain the same," has for its object mainly to
preserve the grain from the attacks of insects to which it would be exposed
in granaries of the ordinary construction. To this end the grain is kept in a
granary which is carefully rendered air-tight, and into which is injected some
gas or vapour which is destructive of insect life. The granary may be
constructed of any convenient size and suitable form, and all cracks, holes,
and crevices must be carefully stopped so that the external air cannot enter,

page_text: and the gases or vapours that are to be injected cannot escape. The floor
ought to be raised at least a foot from the ground, and the ceiling or roof
must also be rendered perfectly air-tight, and all the internal walls, floor, and
roof or ceiling must be whitewashed or lime whited; when this is done and
the walls are dry a quantity of freshly cut pine branches deprived of their
leaves must be spread over the floor and the granary then closed for several
days; in about a fortnight the pine branches may be removed and kept in
some dry covered place where they will not be liable to be wetted by dew or
rain; the granary must then be swept out and cleaned, and the windows may
be opened to allow the dust to escape; the next day these openings must be
bricked up and closely stopped with plaster. Before putting in the grain all
the walls must be washed over two or three times with essence of turpentine,
each coat being allowed to dry before the next is put on; the pine branches
are then again strewed over the floor, and the grain may then be thrown on to
and made to bury them. When as much grain as is desired is placed in the
granary the surface must be strewed over with the meal of new dwarf beans;
the granary must then be closed, and the preserving gas obtained from burning
the leaves of tobacco and other plants must then be injected; when the
granary is completely filled with this vapour all the openings therein must be
hermetically closed so as to prevent the escape of the vapour; the grain can
then be preserved for any length of time.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Antoine Martin in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
8th November 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ANTOINE
MARTIN, of Nantes, in the Empire of France, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-second day of May, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirtieth year of
Her reign did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Antoine Martin, Her special licence that I, the said Antoine
Martin, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said Antoine Martin, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should
at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend; within the United Kingdom of Great Britain

page_text: and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN PRESERVING GRAIN AND IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE GRANARIES
TO CONTAIN THE SAME," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said Antoine Martin, my executors or administrators, by an instrument
in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and
in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be
filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Antoine Martin, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement (that is to say):-
This Invention of "Improvements in Preserving Grain and in the Con-
struction of the Granaries to contain the same" bas for its object mainly to
preserve the grain from the attacks of insects to which it would be exposed
in granaries of the ordinary construction. To this end the grain is kept in a
granary which is carefully rendered air-tight, and into which is injected some
gas or vapor which is destructive of insect life. The granary may be con-
structed of any convenient size and suitable form, and all cracks, holes,
and crevices, must be carefully stopped so that the external air cannot enter;
and the gases or vapors that are to be injected cannot escape. The floor
ought to be raised at least a foot from the ground, and the ceiling or roof
must also be rendered perfectly air-tight. To this end the walls, Hoor, and
roof of the building should, by preference, be constructed in concrete, and
carefully plastered, cemented, or stuccoed over so as to be rendered perfectly
air-tight. All the internal walls, floor, and roof or ceiling must be white-
washed or lime whited; when this has been done and the walls are dry a
quantity of freshly cut pine branches deprived of their leaves must be spread
over the floor, and the granary then closed for several days. In about a
fortnight the pine brauches may be removed and kept in some covered dry
place, where they will not be liable to be wetted by dew or rain. The granary
must then be swept out and cleaned, and the windows may be opened to allow
the dust to escape; the next day these openings must be bricked up, and
closely stopped with plaster. Before putting in the grain all the walls must
be washed over two or three times with essence of turpentine, each coat being
allowed to dry before the next is put on. The pine branches are then again
strewed over the floor, and the grain may then be thrown on and made to
bury them.
When as much grain as is desired is placed in the
granary the

page_text: surface must be strewed over with the meal of new dwarf beans. The
granary must then be closed, and the preserving gas obtained from burning
the leaves of tobacco and other plants must then be injected. When the
granary is completely filled with this vapor all the openings therein must be
hermetically closed so as to prevent the escape of the vapor. The grain can
then be preserved for any length of time.
Having now described my Invention of "Improvements in Preserving
Grain and in the Construction of the Granaries to contain the same," and
having explained the manner of carrying the same into effect, I claim as the
Invention secured to me by Letters Patent as aforesaid preserving grain by
enclosing it in air-tight chambers or buildings constructed and prepared for
the reception of the grain in the manner herein set forth, so that the grain
shall be preserved in an atmosphere which is noxious to animal life as above
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Antoine Martin, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, the Second day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
Witness,
C. H. RÖURCK,
Rue Racine, 6,
Nantes,
France.
ANTOINE MARTIN. (L.S.)
Quai de la Fosse, 72,
à Nantes.