In a message dated 26/07/99 10:17:34, Jeremy Greenwood writes:
<< I know this is an old problem but I can find nothing written about the
different values of abushel that gives the source of the information
OED defines it as 64 pints but then there is an obvious difference between
US
and Imperial pints- of 20%
There is an added problem in that it is used as both a measure of volume and
weight. The Admiralty was probably the largest UK bulk purchaser yet bought
its cereals in quarters (of 8 Winchester bushels) yet distributed them to
ships in pounds
I would therefore be grateful for any input/information as to the definition
of a bushel.
Another unit used in Hants is the fathom as a unit of weight for wood. OED
defines this as an areal unit of 6 feet square >>
My venerable copy of 'Whiteman's Arithmetical Tables' (no date, price 3d!)
states the following:
Dry Measure: 4 Pecks (i.e. 8 gallons) = 1 bushel
Dry measure was used for all quantities which could be 'stricken with a
stick', that is having an even surface from end to end. A standard bushel
contains 2218.192 cu. ins. and measures 19 1/2 ins. in diameter and 8 1/4
ins. deep. By Act of Parliament, apples, pears, currants etc. and goods like
that that 'cannot be conveniently stricken' were permitted to be sold by the
heaped bushel.
Elsewhere in the booklet it notes:
A bushel of flour = 56 lbs.
1 bushel = 3.637 Dekalitres
Hope this helps
Jeremy Hodgkinson
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