The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-03-23
SCIENTIFIC.

Potato Fiour. Few persons arc aware
of the great demand for potato flour,
land Of the almost unlimited extent Of
| the market that can be found for this
product, which Is simply the dry eva
porated pulp Of the ordinary potato-the
winter and more free from black specks
the better. 1t is used for sizing and
other manufacturing purposes, and by
precipitation and with the aid of acid
is turncd into starch. In Europe 1t
meets with large and Increasing de-
mand In its primitive state, as potato
tlour, and in Lancashire, alone 1000
tons are sold annually, and as many
more would be takcn IL put on the mar
kct. When calcined 1t is used largely
for silk dressing and other purposes.
at present the quotation for potato flour
in Liverpool Is nearly double that OF
wheat flour. Consignments to Liver
pool arc solicited by the brokers there,
who promise to take all that can be fur
nished. During the Franco-Gcrman
war the French Government purchased
nj the farina it could secure and mix cd it
with wheaton flour in ''potato cake"
for the army. Farina at this time rose
to Gl0 4 ton, and even then the supply
fell tar short of the demand. Since then
an increased amount Of farina has
been regularly consumed in France,
and farina mills have c0rrespondingly
multiplied in that country. The man
ufacture of potato flour is SO simple,
and the results SO methodicai, that it
requires very little experience to reach
Il satisfactory issue. The potatoes are
first stepped in water from six to twelve
hours to soften.the dirt and other mat
ter adhering, after which they are
thoroughly washed by mechanical
means with the aid of either steam or
water power. They are then reduced
to pulp by rasping or grinding pro-
cess III properly constructed mill.
a small stream of water Is caused to
flow on the upper surface of the rosp
or grinder, to keep it clean Of an accu-
mutation ofpulp. From the grinder the
pulp falls INTO a washing machine,
through which the farina is forced by
revolving brushes, the eoarscr pulp be-
ing thrown out at lateral openings.
The granulcs of farlna pass into
trough, and are conducted to watts,
where the farina is permitted TO deposit.
Alter the proper number Of tiltTations,
and depOsitiOns have occurred, until the
last deposit, which is pure with farina,
tho latter becomes of sufficient consist
cncy to cut into Jumps, and place, cith-
cr unsupported Or in conical wire cases,
to dry. The drying process can be ac-
complishcd in building supplied with
shelves, and capable Of being heated
from 60 deg. at which the tarima begins
to dry, up to 2l2 deg. which is as high
u temperature is it will require. The
heating apparatus may be such as is
most convenient. In Europc the furina
is packed in 200 20 212 pound fine sacks,
but flour barrels arc said 10 be prefer
abe, us the wood protects it from dam
age, and allows it to be transported
safely to the most distant regions.
Geo.
The Barn method of preserving iron
is declared by eminent scientific au-
lhoritfes to be an important and vuiua-
bic contribution to the industrial wants
of the world. The surface of the iron
to be thus treated is subjected to tile ac-
tion of super.catcd steam at a high
temperature, the result being the pro-
duc;ion upon the surface Of the iron of
Il hard, smooth and durable skin Of
black oxide Of iron, which prevents
rust fir better than any paint, lacquer,
rubber, or other compound or process
heretofore known. Thc.articlcs treated
are first cleaned with dilute Sulphuric
acid, and atterward with bran-wator.
Tncy are then placed within a mutIle,
the temperature Of which is 5000 or 6OO0
degrees Fahrenheit, and dry super
heated steam at n temperature Of ZOO
degrees is admitted, atmospheric air
being carefully excluded. The forma-
ton OF the black oxide skin RAPIDLY
taxes place; ut Is 50 hard that It resists
emery power and the flo, and many
substances which adhere to ordinary
Iron will not stick TO the iron prepared
In this way. 1t can also be heated red
hot without injuring the skin, and is
proof against damp, water and cor
rosion.