Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-03-11
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP

WAodINGION NEW AND GOSSIP.
Progress.-In matters of steam, electricity,
&c, &C., with which all the mobile world are
necessarily almost constantly thrown in con-
tact, the newspapers are ever watchful to
chronicle every step in the march of improve
ment; insomuch as they Immediately interes ct
those who are commonly regarded as the
newspaper readers Of the day. We mean the
Inhabitants Of the cities !; and We here refer to
the city press, for the issue of a single daily
journal Of considerable circulation rarely fails
- be tentoid that Of any country paper print
ed within fifty miles Of it. Yet in the depart
nent q agriculture, in the progress of which
our country is far more interested than in that
of any ether bIarch Whatsoever Of American
industry, the city press takes little interest,
indeed. Still, within the last ten years, as fast
rs OUT country has improved in the matter of
the discovery and perfection of Few methods
and modes applicable to the arts which save
labor and redu,e cost, We question much
whether cur progress in this respect has been
30 sure and 90 swift as in the reduction of the
labor required in the business of agriculture
TO produce desired result and to accomplish
desired ends more certainly than was prev;.
ou5ly possible. Such reflections forced them.
selves upon our mind yesterday afternoon,
In sauDtsring through the Mechanics Insti-
tute Far, where We noticed three articles ON
exhibition, which, though attracting apparent
~ slight attention, are In their results by long
odds the most important things to be seen
there. We refer to those entered by the
already celebrated house of Hedges, Meckbee
Co., Of Philadelphia-the Little Giant
Corn and Cob Crusher, invented by Mr.
Scot. some years ago, and Hedges feed boiler,
and his Kill for COMPRISING the juice from
Chinese sugar cane.
Our limits will not permit US to 20 into tho
minuts description of these articles We should
like TO present to the Stars readers. So, we
can only speak Of their effects on the interests
OF society up to this time, and what is surely
destined to De their future effects The Little
Giant' has been known to the agricultural
world for some few years past as the machine
that has demonstrated, past any present de-
NAL, that the farmer has in his corn-cobs food
for ais stock worth quite one-third its weight
Ii clear Indian corn grain. Or, in other
words, it has secured, for all the farmers of
the United States the means Of feeding prop
erly one-third more stock, with the same az
gregate OK production by their respective
farm, than up to its invention. That is, 50 far
as feeding On Indian corn ia concerned. II
must be remembered that this is without the
labor and cost Of planting and caring for q
single extra grain. One must be both statis-
tician and political economist to comprehend,
even feintly, indeed, the immense benefit this
already so widely disseminated little machine
has thus wrought for our country. That it is
Going all that We claim for it is not only well
known to all farmers who live up to the spirit
OF tns age In the management Of their affairs,
out Is apparent in the fact that twenty differ
ent rivals to it for popular favor are essayed
70 DC paimed on the public, all Of which, when
tes'ea oy competent persons at the agricultu.
rai fsirs' go to the vall''-the decision in
perhaps hundred sush trials having inva.
haoiy oeen In favor Of this so complete and
successiui invention. According to a late
number OF leading agricultural ;orrn.I
ii,Ooo OF them had been brought into u,s nm
to the opening Of this year, and the ANIMAL
saving through the use OF each ia est;m.,.a
to be equal to the value of 500 bu,b,l. ~
corn yet its use may really be said to bav,
hardly commenced over the land, for In soms
sections it almost yet remains to be heard OF.
The specimen On exhibition at the fair now
In progress here embraces the latest improve.
ments, among them being considerable re.
duction Of size, and therefore, as in all cases
Of the use Of cast iron, greater perfection In
the castings; and the double works through
which, By increasing the horsepower applied,
double the amount Of work can be done with
machine of the same class, (number,) such
"Has Manufactured one year ago.
The Feed Boiler Of Mr.. Hedges is q fitting
companion for the Little Giant" For some
years past persons interested in stock feeding
nave been carrying on carefully instituted s1.
Perments to afcertain the relative economy
tprofD Of the use Of cooked and raw grain
According to the recent publication Of N.
Kentucky State Agricultural Society, through
their President, Mr. Clay, given weight Of
corn ground in such crusher as We dsscrib.
above, and then boiled, viii increase tn
weight Of a "stock" hog three pounds, for or
assrssssd By feeding the same quantity N.