Elizabeth-Town gazette. [volume] (Elizabeth-Town, N.J.) 1818-1821, 1819-08-24
RURAL ECONOMY.
From the North-Carolina Star.

Their ground nor boiied. 1t is we'll es-
tablished physiological iaci, that the good
health oil animals requires that ailments
for the stomach should afford both nutri-
ment and mechanical distention in due
proportions. In the usual method OF feed
ing, the proportions do not exist, and be-
sides the nutritious quality is only par
TALLY extracted. The grinding Of corn is
sometimes practised by those who have
mills, and boiling by those who have not.
Meal is sometimes mixed with water and
jieTmenied. Ali these are improy enients
in feeding, but these are not sufficient.
Lately mill of cast iron has been invent
ed which converts both corn aud cob into
meal, and is used also by tanners in grind
ing their bark. This improvement is val
liable. The cob, while it affords in itself
much nutriment, furnishes degree oil
distention to the stomach which is neces-
|sary to its proper action. If TO this grind
ing Of the cob and grain is superadded
fermentation or boiling, the economical
process is nearly complete. | have not
time to say what the subject requires 10
regard to fermentation. Boiling not only
renders the articles acted on soluble in
the stomach, but it does more--it adds
nutriment furnished by the water itself.
The experiments of Count Rumford are
full and satisfactory on this head. Let
those who doubt the nulritive qualities OF
water, be reminded that many kinds OF
fish live, grow, and fatten on pure water,
without any other food whatever. Every
one has seen the gold fish which have lived
for years in globes of pure water, that are
sometimes put by the curious into cages
of canary birds. Water and air constitute
the entire. aliment of vegetables, and give
them bulk without diminishing at al! the
quantity Of soil in which they grow. The
perfection OF feeding corn consists in pre-
serving the corn, grinding the whole into
meal, and in the cookery. The iron mill
is excellent, but too expensive for some
farmers. What is wanting then is to have
the corn with its cob powdered by some
cheap and simple method that every one
may avail themselves of. Such an one
accident lately made me acquainted with,
and l think it SO valuable that am de-
sirous Of seeing il introduced into general
use, and shall attempt description Of the
machine by which the process was effected.
This machine saw last summer in
operation on the road between Lincolnton
and Morganton. 1t was horizontal shaft
with a beater at one end poised by the
weight of water falling into an excavation
at the other. The shaft or helve was
about IA, possibly 10 feet long. And
two thirds Of its length from the beater it
rested by notch across the sharpened
edge Of piece Of timber lying in trans
verse direction, serving as the pivot or
fulcrum for the shaft to move on. The
beater was piece of wood, two feet or
rather more in length, fixed by mortice
and lennon to the end OF the shaft; its face
was about two inches and a half in diam
eter, and plated with iron. The mortar
which received this pestle or beater was
the hollow end of log, wide at top, mar
row at the bottom, and would contain
nearly bushel. The other or shorter end
of the shaft was excavated into trough
about three feet long, eight inches wide,
and the same in depth. The extreme in
ner end Of the trough formed an angle of
ascent from the line of the bottom Of
about 80 degrees, affording thereby an
easy exit to the water when depressed by
its weight.
This very simple machine (for have
described the whole Of it) was placed up
on the small run of a branch where there
was descent Of about two feet. The
water was conveyed into the trough by a
spout which approached it at right angles,
and the trough was filled and discharged
about twice in minute. Every morning,
and again at evening, this mortar was fill
ed with ears Of corn, which in twelve
hours were found reduced to very fine
meal. Ii was capable Of converting three
or four mortars full day, but two were
sufficient for the use Of the plantation, and
the mortar was attended TO only when it
could be done with convenience. In wet
season, when the spring run afforded more
water, it moved with increased celerity
aud was capable Of increased work. The
machine was without cover, and l OBJ.
served barn door fowls around 1t, but
afraid Of the motion Of the shaft, thew
never ventured to purloin from the NOR
tar. The whole expense of this, think
could not have exceeded A or S dollars.
/ know not the inventor Of this machine
There were few others, | was told. in
Lincoln and Burke. Its extreme sim.
plicity. cheappess and utility, and the
means afforded to almost every one Of
putting ii 10 motion, ought to recommend
it to general use. ! am persuaded this