Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1893-12-21

A Unique and Prntitnbie Connecticut In
huAtrN- -HOw II Grows.

dustfy-- HOW IL GroWss
A Guilford, Conn, correspondent Of
the Philadelphia North american writes:
With the falling Of the leaves begins an
industry in the Connecticut valley that
is unique and profitable. 1t is the manu-
factnre of witch hazel extract.
Witch hazel grows in clumps in the
swamps along the Connecticut river,
and ut this time, when the leaves arc
falling, it is in bloom. The blossom is
bright yellow in color, and the petals,
of which there are four, are about an
inch long and crooked, like bits of
twisted wire.
The extract made from the bark and
twigs of this bush is said to possess heal.
ing virtues, and half dozen stills in
Connecticut are kept busy during the
winter season producing it. The annual
product of these stills amounts to about
5000 barrels, and all Of this is worked
into patent medicines, ointments and To-
tons and sold to the ailing public at n
price that yields the producer splendid
profit.
Witch hazel stills are generally rough
structures of slabs located in some shell
tered spot near swamp where the hazel
can be easily procured, 1t is drawn to
the still in OK wagons, and it is paid for
az the rate of SO IL ton.
The brush is run through powerful
cutting machine that chops it into pieces
from 3 TO 5 inches long. After being
cut the brush is crowded into copper
cylinders that have capacity Of from
700 10 800 pounds. The top of these
cylinders can be taken off. When the
cylinder is filled with brush, the top is
replaced, the edges of it being embedded
In asbcstus, which Theoretically seals il.
From the top Of the cover steam pipe
extends TO a worm that rests in tank
of water, which is constantly kept run.
ming and cold. Steam pipes connect
the bottom Of the tank with n boiler,
and BY this means the brush is cooked.
The steam passes through tue worm
and is condensed, the extract falling
into receptacle at the bottom Of the
worm tank
The brush is cooked from three to
four hours, accordingly as the extract
shows strength. After the first two
hours Of cooking the extract grows
weaker When the virtue is out OF the
brush, the cylinders are emptied and II
fresh "boiling" put on. To clean the
extract of sediment and other impuri-
ties or dirt it is filtered through cotton
flannel, In cold weather the extract will
remain swaet for several weeks, but to
preserve it against souring, which it is
sure to do ii not fortified, about 70 per
cent of alcohol is added to il.
The average yield of Il ton of hazel
brush is two barrels, and sometimes this
| quantity is stretched considerably. The
average yield per day of "a hours of
each cylinder is three barrels. The cx-
tract is disposed OF by the producers at
90 cents gallon. When it is considered
that each cylinder turns out 50 gallons
of extract in "a hours from material
that cost only So, it is apparent that the
witch hazel still is profitable affair.
Some of the stills operate six cylinders,
and this requires force of six or seven
men. The stills are usually kept run.
ming night and day duling the season
which continues from November tc
April 18th.