CUTTING AND COOKING FOOD. 349 



good boiling arrangement, where only water, or some thin liquid 

 is to be heated; but if hay or straw, or even potatoes, are to be 

 boiled with little water, as would be the case, especially in steam- 

 ing fodder, it would settle and burn on the bottom. "We have 

 many times tried this in a large kettle, with this result. This 

 difficulty can be obviated entirely, and a good steaming appara- 

 tus be made of it, by placing a false bottom one inch above the 

 real bottom. This may be done in the following manner: Take 

 a sheet of No. 18 iron, of the size of the box, or, perhaps, one- 

 half inch wider; have this punched with small holes, so as to let 

 the water down and the steam up. It can be let into the side 

 of the box, or a half-inch cleat can be nailed on the side and end 

 of the box, for it to rest on. This would not sufficiently support 

 the weight of feed to put on it, and, therefore, %-inch rods must 

 be put through the sides, under this false bottom, to sustain it 

 one, perhaps, every foot. Then a wooden or iron faucet, must 

 be put through the side, between these bottoms, to draw off the 

 water. Now, a wooden cover, on the top of the box, to keep 

 the steam in, and here is as complete, effectual, and cheap a 

 steamer for cooking without pressure, as can be desired. The 

 whole apparatus would not, probably, cost over $25, for the 

 seven feet, or $50 for the fourteen feet length. This largest 

 size would be ample for fifty to seventy-five head of cattle and 

 horses. The chimney should be as long as the steam box, to 

 make a proper draft. 



" There is, also, D. R. Prindle's agricultural caldron and steamer, 

 a portable apparatus used for boiling and steaming. It has been 

 used in various parts of the country, and highly spoken of, for 

 its convenience in being adapted to cooking for stock, as well as 

 for most other heating purposes on the farm. 



ARRANGEMENT FOR A LARGE STOCK. 



"For the benefit of those who wish to feed a large stock, one 

 to two hundred head of cattle, or more, we will suggest an 



