Page:An Encyclopædia of Cottage, Farm, and Villa Architecture and Furniture.djvu/642

 018 COTTAGE, FARM, AND VILLA ARCHITECTURE. 1185 2J tions in a foot, extending 2 feet 10 inches, and the remaining 8 inches are finished off to an inch in diameter. This passes into a cross beam, vi, 4 inches thick, strengthened by supports to the beams of the roof above. The screws pass freely tlirough holes in a bridge, n, which is 4 inches thick, and a foot wide ; and is suspended at each end by two slots (cross bars) playing on a rim round the lower extremity of the nuts, which serve to work it up and down. The nuts are each about 7 inches long, and turned by a collar, with 3 horns fitting into the nut, and prevented from sli])ping round by 3 lips on the nuts, corresponding to as many grooves in the collar. The liorns are 1 foot 8 inches long, being turned up for 5 inches at the ends, to afford a more ready clutch. A square board, termed a shooter, o, and a number of oak blocks, 3 feet long and 4 inches square, are made use of; the former to lay flat on the pile of must, and the blocks to place two and two, crosswise, as many as may be necessary to raise it to the height required. These serve to equalise the pressure on all parts of the must. If the cellar be not sufficiently near to admit of an open trunk conveying the liquor at once from the lip of the press vat to a receiver in the cellar, a permanent stone cistern sunk into the ground beneath it is requisite. 1317. This press differs from that in general use, in which a single perpendicular screw works downwards through a fixed nut, and has an advantage over it in giving an increase of power, and as commanding greater certainty of an e(juality of pressure. The pair ot screw pillars cost from £6 to £7 ; but they effect a great saving of timber and labour in its erection. In its use, care should be taken to screw down both the nuts equally, otherwise there is danger of breaking or bending the screws. On first commencing to press, this may readily be done by a man standing on the front of the vat, and turning one with each hand : but subsequently, when greater fi)rce is required, first one and then the other must be screwed down, only a little at a time ; or, if two men are employed