DRYING BY THE PALLET SYSTEM.
In drying brick by the pallet system various methods are employed. An economical and satisfactory system of drying by this method consists in delivering the brick after being hand-moulded directly from the mould on to a pallet made of plastering lath 32x11 inches in size, each pallet holding six brick. The pallets are made of pine lath, by placing close to gether two layers of lath which are separated with five short lath—one at each end and three dividing the distance between, and the two layers of lath and cross lath nailed through at each crossing of the short lath, which makes what we might call a lath pad, that is light and convenient and can be stored in a small space.
The drying cribs are constructed by setting 2"x4" or 4"x4" studding in the ground in three rows 27 inches apart in the cross section of the crib, and in the length a sufficient distance to receive the brick pallets on cleats nailed to the cross section of the posts. The two outside rows of posts rise seven feet above ground, and the centre row eight and a half feet. Upon the tops of the posts a permanent roof is constructed.
A cross section, in width of the crib, will hold five pallets of brick (each holding six brick). The cleats on the post begin
six inches from the ground, and are set apart so as to receive eleven tiers of pallets, the end of each pallet resting on the cleats, which gives a holding capacity of Ilo brick for each foot of the cribs' length. 12 cribs, 13o feet in length, give a drying capacity for over 170,000 brick.
The advantages of this system of drying are the economy of ground space, the avoidance of moisture rising from the earth, the drying in the shade, the protection against damage from rains, the brick are separated so far apart as to dry on all sides alike, and when dry may remain in the crib until removed to the kiln or store-shed, and being handled on the pallets to the kiln they are not marred by breakage or finger marks.
A crib of the size indicated would give a drying capacity for about 30,00o brick made per day.
Store-sheds in which to accumulate a stock of dry brick to burn after the season for moulding closes are necessary where this system of drying is employed.