Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1909-03-02
The Bleaching of Flour.

Inc bleaching OF hour by the use or
nitrous acid is ROW being investigated
by DR.. Wiley. chief OF the chemical
division Of the Federal Agricultural
Department, and there is every reason
to believe that his finding will be In
accordance with truth and justice. The
millers who have been In the habit
OF bleaching inferior grades Of -four
are particularly excited, but the house
wife wfo has learned that the ABSORB
tive and expansive powers of the gluten
are decreased, the bread makes a small
er loaf after being bleaehed and that
the presence of nitrous acid in the -four
not only gives the bread a decided odor
and taste, but makes it harmful physio-
logically, will uphold the investigation.
This bleaching process came in the
first place, it is stated, because house
keepers demanded a dead white in
place of creamy white -four and loaf.
Now 1T has been proved that it takes
the life from the -four, and that the
only one who reaps any benefit from
State Drainage Work.
The University of Wisconsin depart
ment of soils has recently been assist
ing in the organization of drainage dis
tricts at a number of points in the
State, including Black Greek and Shoe
ton, west of Green Bay in Outagamie
County, where from 5000 to $500
acres can be drained by the straighten-
ing and deepening of Black Greek. This
will also give the City of Seymour au
outlet for sewage purposes, If the city
deems it advisable to enter the district.
Professor A. r. Whitson, in charge of
the plan, in reviewing the work, points
out the fact that this land is largely
alluvial soil, and thus will be much
more fertile than the average marsh
soil. If drained, 1t will be adapted to
corn and hay, especially to alsike and
timothy, and the better portions will
raise grain.
Another district in which much inter
est is shown is in Southeastern Wiscon-
sin along the Koshkonong River, where
thousands Of acres are undrained be-
cause of the sluggishness Of Koshko-
noLg Creek. This will probably include
the drainage Of Goose Lake and Mud
Greek, and the reclamation of from
1000 to 5000 acres. The Rattlesnake
district is also in process Of organiza-
ton, to drain an additional 5000 or
1000 acres by main canal entering
the Koshkonong at the point where
the other canal begins. Between Edger-
ton and Stoughton similar district Is
being organized.
ut Is encouraging to see the inter
est that is being taken very recently
in the drainage of these lands" says
Professor Whitson. 1--WE have approx
imately t@o-thirds of million acres
of them in the southern part of the
State. Drainage is not limited to that
section, however. During the past sum-
mer the department OF soils found a
considerable tract of land in Pierce
County seriously in need of drainage,
which need had not been recognized.
Cooperation for drainage purposes
is absolutely necessary, and it is al
ways serious matter to get all that
are included in a region needing drain
age interested in the organization of a
district. The legal processes involved
are also rather long. The department
aids as much as possible in this work
by making preliminary surveys and pre-
pairing plans for drainage with esti-
mates of possible cost and of the as
sessment of benefits on the different
farms, so that each farmer may know
very closely what it will cost him If a
district is actually organized"