The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1891-10-23
Science In Bread lEaAinx.

Science IN Bread Making.
| At the recent annual meeting oI
| the American Chemical Society, held
in Washington, D. c., the question
of the value of carbonate of ammon.
ia as leavening agent in bread, cr
as used in baking powders came up
for discussion, in which Prof. Barker,
of the University OF Pennsylvania,
and President of the Socity; DR..
Richardson, late of the United States
Department of Agriculture in Wash
ington; DR.. VIM. McMurtrie, late
Prof. of Chemistry in the University
of Illinois; DR.. E. 81. BARLEY, late
Chemist of the Brooklyn, N. Y,
Board of Health, and Prof. of Chem
istry of the Long Island College, and
others, took part.
The consensus of opinion was over
whelming in favor of the employ
ment of ammonia. 1t was stated as
a fact that ammonia rendered the
gluten of the -four more soluble than
the original gluten, and that the
bread in which this action was pro-
duced by carbonate of ammonia
must be more digestihle and hence
more healthful, and because of the
extreme volatility of carbonate of
ammonia, and it's complete expul-
sion from the bread in the process
of baking, it is one of the most USE
full, most healthful and most valu-
able leavening agents known.
These conclusions are borne out
by the very elaborate and exhaus-
tive experiments made by Prof. J.
w. Mallet, of the University of Vir-
ginia, which show conclusively that
bread made with baking powder
in which one per cent. of carbonate
OF ammonia is used, in connection
with cream of tartar and soda. is
not only of uniformly better color
and texture, but a product more
wholesome, because the ammonia
serves to neutralize any organic or
actic acids present in the -four.
Farmers and Finances.
The grange is to the farmers of the
north just what the Alliance is to the
farmers of the south.
The two organizations favor different
methods of dealing with the great finan-
cial problem of the day, but both agree
that the situation renders the expansion
Of our volume of currency imperatively
necessary.
In the report adopted by the executive
committee of the national grange, which
has been in session here within the past
few days, some important recommends
tions are made. The report calls atten-
ton to the fact that the volume of cur
rency is now only ST. per capita against
500 In 1869. In view of the prosperity of
the farmers and other classes in 1862 the
grangers express the opinion that ST.
per capita is too small a figure They
therefore urge congress to fix the circu-
lation at not less than $40 or $50 per cap
tia, and authorize the government to
lend money to the farmers at 2 per
cent under proper restrictions. The
free coinage of silver is also recon-
mended.
The methods and details of financial
relief should not be hastily decided upon.
The southern farmers favor the sub
treasury plan. Their northern brethren
favor direct loans from the government.
The significant point is that both the
northern and southern farmers demand
the expansion of the currency to meet |
the business needs of the country.
With the agricultural classes of the
republic solidly united on the main ques-
ton congress cannot much longer ignore
the will of the people. The precise form |
in which financial relief shall come is a
matter to be considered and discussed.
The government will be compelled to
respond to the demand of the people for
financial system that will satisfy their
legitimate and reasonable needs.-At-
lanta Constitution.