PROCEEDINGS OF THE FARMERS' CLUB. 241 



that overcomes cohesion. The shell of every grain of wheat is 

 cracked around its equator ; and on examining it with a magnifying 

 glass you find slits in each half, spread open like a basket. The 

 difference in the specific gravity separates these shells from the 

 flour. When corn is passed through this machine, the scales, the 

 oleaginous matter, and the flour, are deposited in their different 

 places. 



On motion of Mr. Carpenter, a committee, consisting of Messrs. 

 Robinson, Bergen and Gale, was appointed to examine and report 

 upon these subjects. 



MISCELLANEOUS. 



The subject, " Silk and Flax," was selected for the next meeting. 



Mr. Burgess stated that in London at least a thousand pounds 

 per day of old tea leaves are gathered and dried to be sold for 

 tea. He suggested the Viburnum Prunifolium as a substitute for 

 tea. The leaves are to be gathered when three-fourths expanded. 



Prof. Mapes, — Dr. Charles G. Page, of Washington, a few years 

 ago made known the fact that passing leaves through a pair of 

 rollers before they are dried, thus slightly crushing them, will 

 cause them to preserve their color and their aroma. Probably an 

 ordinary domestic rolling-pin would answer the purpose. 



Adjourned. 



February 3, 1862. 

 Mr. Edward Doughty, of Newark, N. J., in the chair. 



TEA AND COFFEE. 



Mr. Carpenter exhibited a sample of American made tea, such 

 as is largely consumed in this city and in this country, and sup- 

 posed to be genuine. Originally it came, no doubt, from China, 

 but it was so poor an article that it was probably brought as bal- 

 last. It has been sold in this market for two or three cents per 

 pound : it was originally a black tea, but has been converted into 

 green tea : it is said to have been used in China, the grounds 

 being saved and dried to be sent to this country: it has lately 

 been sold for forty to fifty cents per pound. Imported teas have 

 advanced to such an extent that retailers cannot sell them at a 

 profit, and so they mix them with this. This article must cer- 

 tainly be detrimental to the health ; I think it is poisonous. 



A gentleman remarked that the prohibition in England against 

 mixing chicory with coffee, was not upon sanitary, but upon moral 

 grounds. He did not regard chicory as any more injurious to the 



[Am. Inst.] P 



