IMPROVE- NO DODDING CERTAIN VEGETABLE SUBSTANCES
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Muckart, of Letham Mill, near Arbroath, in
the County of Forfar, North Britain, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
NO DODDING CERTAIN VEGETABLE SUBSTANCES."
Sealed the 3rd May 1864, and dated the 6th November 1863.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Muckart at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 6th
November 1863.
I, JOHN MUCKART, of Letham Mill, near Arbroath, in the County of
Forfar, North Britain, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN PRESERVING CERTAIN VEGETABLE SUBSTANCES" to be as
follows:-
This Invention relates to the preservation of potatoes, turnips, parsnips,
and carrots, whereby they may be kept for a great length of time, and used
for food afterwards, without losing any of their nutritive qualities or having
their flavor impaired.
In preserving potatoes according to this Invention, the roots are first well
washed and cleansed in any convenient manner, the peel or outer skin is then
removed by means of any suitable apparatus, but I prefer to employ a rasping
or roughened surface drum revolving at a high velocity, and having a stream
After the
of water running over it during the rasping or peeling process.
peel. is removed any existing specks and eyes are to be carefully picked out,

page_text: when the potatoe is ready for cooking, which I accomplish by either boiling
or steaming. When sufficiently cooked the potatoe is to be squeezed through
a perforated plate on to drying trays or tables heated by steam heat, and
when the mass is thoroughly dry it is packed in receptacles for the market.
The essential feature of this part of my Invention is the peeling of the potatoe
in the manner described, previous to cooking and drying the same.
In preserving turnips, parsnips, and carrots according to this Invention, I
first wash the roots, remove the skin or peel, and then cut the root into small
fragments of convenient size, which I boil or steam until they are sufficiently
soft to be squeezed through a perforated plate. This pulp or mash is placed
in thin layers upon metal trays or receptacles, the surface of which has been
previously rubbed over with olive oil, butter, or other fatty or oleaginous
substances, or combinations of the same. These trays, with the pulp upon
them, are subjected to steam heat, with a view to the complete desication of
the mass, which, when completely dried and allowed to cool, is ready to be
packed for the market. The essential feature of this part of my Invention is
the rubbing or coating of the drying trays with oleaginous or fatty matter or
matters before placing the pulp thereon.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Muckart in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 5th
May 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
MUCKART, of Letham Mill, near Arbroath, in the County of Forfar, North
Britain, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Sixth day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-seventh year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said John Muckart, Her special license that I, the said John Muckart, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John
Muckart, my executors, administrators, or assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN PRESERVING
CERTAIN VEGETABLE SUBSTANCES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I,

page_text: the said John Muckart, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my hand and seal, or under the hand and seal of one of them,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention,
and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be
filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Muckart, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, that is to say:-
My said Invention relates to the preservation of potatoes, turnips, parsnips,
and carrots, whereby they may be kept for a great length of time, and used
for food afterwards, without losing any of their nutritive qualities or having
their flavour impaired.
In preserving potatoes according to this Invention, the roots are first well
washed and cleansed in any convenient manner, the peel or outer skin is then
removed by means of any suitable apparatus, but I prefer to employ a rasping
or roughened surface drum revolving at a high velocity, and having a streami
of water running over it during the rasping or peeling process. After the
peel is removed any existing specks and eyes are to be carefully picked out,
when the potatoe is ready for cooking, which I accomplish by either boiling
or steaming. When sufficiently cooked the potatoe is to be squeezed through
a perforated plate on to drying trays or tables, heated by steam heat, and
when the mass is thoroughly dry it is packed in receptacles for the market.
The essential feature of this part of my Invention is the peeling of the potatoe
in the manner described, previous to cooking and drying the same.
In preserving turnips, parsnips, and carrots according to this Invention, I
first wash the roots, remove the skin or peel, and then cut the roots into small
fragments of convenient size, which I boil or steam until they are sufficiently
soft to be squeezed through a perforated plate. This pulp or mash is placed
in thin layers upon metal trays or receptacles, the surface of which has been
previously rubbed over with olive oil, butter, or other fatty oleaginous sub-
stances or combinations of the same. These trays, with the pulp upon them,
are subjected to steam heat, with a view to the complete desiccation of the
mass, which, when completely dried and allowed to cool, is ready to be packed
for the market. The essential feature of this part of my Invention is the
rubbing or coating of the drying trays with oleaginous or fatty matter or
matters before placing the pulp thereon.
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood, I shall

page_text: now proceed to describe the system or mode of carrying out the same in
practice.
The system or arrangement of mechanism I prefer to employ for peeling
the roots consists of a drum fixed on a central shaft, capable of revolving in
bearings; the surface of the drum is covered with metallic sheets perforated
with numerous holes; the rough or "burred" side of which is presented to
the roots to be peeled. This drum is fitted into a wooden case, and closed in,
so that only a long narrow opening is left at the top or sides of it. In this
opening a stream of water is caused to flow, and the roots to be peeled at the
same time are placed therein, whilst the action of the roughened surface of
the drum revolving at a high velocity peels them. The eyes of the roots,
if not taken out by this apparatus, are picked out after they are taken away
from the revolving drum. By this operation I save expense and labour,
at the same time the peelings or raspings are turned to better account by
being converted into farina. The roots are then ready to be cooked, which
process is conducted in any suitable vessel, and when they are cooked they are
squeezed by hydrostatic, steam, or other power through perforated plates on
to drying beds or trays heated by steam, after laying on which for a sufficient
length of time the mass of cooked vegetable roots become desiccated, when it
is ready to be packed for storage or the market in convenient receptacles.
The mode of preserving other roots, such as turnips, parsnips, and carrots,
according to this Invention, consists in first peeling the roots in a similar
manner to that herein-before described; secondly, in cutting them into small
pieces or fragments of any convenient size, after which they are reduced to a
pulp by boiling or by the action of steam, when the mass is squeezed through
perforated plates or beds, and allowed to fall into receptacles which have been
previously rubbed over or covered with oil, butter, or other fatty or oleaginous
substances, or combinations of the same. These trays or beds are then heated
by steam, for the purpose of desiccating the pulp laid thereon, after which
operation the dried mass is packed in convenient receptacles for storeage
or the market.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner
in which the same is or may be used or practically carried into effect, I would
observe in conclusion that I do not confine myself to the precise details I have
had occasion to describe or refer to, as many variations may be made there-
from without deviating from the true principles and main features of my said
Invention, but what I consider to be novel and original, and therefore claim
as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters
Patent, is,

page_text: First, the peeling of the roots of vegetables previous to their being cooked
in the manner and for the purposes herein-before described.
Second, the mode of treating the vegetable roots after being peeled, so as
to finish them, for the purposes of being stored, or for the market, as herein-
before described, or any mere modification thereof.
Third, the rubbing or coating of the drying or desiccating trays with
oleaginous or fatty matters, for the purposes herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Muckart, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Thirtieth day of April, One thousand eight hundred
and sixty-four.
JNO. MUCKART. (L.S.)