Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1869-08-19
Agricultural.
FARM, GARDEN AND HOUSEHOLD.

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DRYING GRAIN AND Hay AsruIc1A11x.-,
Many persons have probably not yet forgot
ten the celebrated English gentleman far
mer," Mechi, who received Mr.. McC ormick,
with his reaper, so kindly in that country
in 1851. Mechi was originally . London
cutler and jeweler and his magic razor
strop" are stin a favorite article Of the gen.
tleman's toilet. But he took to fancy farm
ing, and has stuck bravely to it. He was
one of those who helped 10 bring the steam
pillow to the attention of the public. We
see by the last London Times that he is the
ipatronsof ney invention which has re-
ceived a prize Of fifty guineas'and the gold
medal of the Society Of Arts. 1t may never
be needed in this country, but no doubt
will prove useful in England and other
moist climates. Mechi aystheimprovement
sought by this machine 'is the drying and
securing our hay and corn crops, especially
in wet seasons, without the ordinary and
precanous delay of long exposure IN fact,
simply the extracting, without delay, OF
the superhuous moisture contained N the
crops" The study and completion of this
invention have occupied the, inventor nine
years. NJ. Mechi describes the invention
as consisting of q rapidly revolving fan,
driven by horse or by steam power. 1t IL
attached to the smoke-box of coke fur
mace, and Ia gauze screen intervening) with
draws all the heat which would be carried
up the chimney or shaft and be wasted
and diffuses it among the grass or corr
sheaves exposed to its blast. Grass cut, ano
! of once brought to the mouth of the no
blast is converted in eight or ten MINUTES
into fine green hay of the very best quality
fit for immediate sale or consumption
, Grass contains seyenty-ave per cent o
water; sixty per cent. passes of as steam
leaving the cry hay with its usual fiftee'
per cent. Of water. DR.. Voelcker, the IN
. ventor, says that the hay or corn suffers M
; deterioration by this quick drying; hut. Of
the contrary, is better for it, and also con
tanned less water than field-dried bay
Corn is dried by the same means by inpal
ing the sheaf on verticle hollow spike o
tube, pierced with holes, through yhlc
: the hot blast issues. The whole. wofkin
e mechanism and arrangements are simple
l uncostly and admirably contrived. Th
= temperature Of the blast was 800, and it ma
u be. regulated at will At the mouth Of a Il
!. comotive funnel it is over 500. - -
PRESERVING FRUITs.-The rules for pr
serving fruits are simple and few, and ca
be successfully observed by any on
o There need be no failure if reasonable cal
re and attention is exercised. There are tw
q. ways ofexpelling the air from jars or can
st either of which will answer. The first
o to heat the fruit after putting in into til
: cans or jars, and to other to pour the hi
!. fruit into them, v.hich itself will expel ii
air. The first method is usually preferred
1t preserves the form and beauty of IL
v fruit which is likely to become bruise
| 4 l..
r Great care should ne taken IN cRpning che
y ries, berries, currants and all small fruit
" to do so without bruising them. Whe
70 broken the juice escapes and presents
a clear syrup. Too much cooking has I'll
e same effect.
rs To prevent breakage, when glass jars
; bottles are us ed they should be immerst
n; in warm water before pouring in hot frui
- or wettting n towel in cold water and fol
b ing it around the jar before pouring it
eT T will answer to the same purpose.
All fruit and vegetables should be pack'
4 in as closely at they will permit. In hea
I'd ing the jars, pieces of wood should be la
"a at the bottom of the boiler to keep them {
the hot surface, and as soon as the fruit
sufficiently heated or cooked they shou
be sealed or soldered and set away. Befo
al setting them away, be sure that they a
M M perfectly air-tight The leastair will spt
NJ the fruit.
~ A good general rule in canning fruit is
70, use one pound of sugar with four ponn
an of fruit, and enough water TO keep it fro
BE- burning Tin cans should be soldered,
H. sealed with sealing wax or cement made
equal parts of rosin, beeswax, and tallo
Sealing wax is best for such cans as La
N. grooved rims.