PARTICULAR EXAMPLES OF IMPROVEMENT. 489 



barrels are suspended in an iron half hoop, and are swung back 

 and forward by a crane. They turn upon a pivot, and have but 

 one head in. They are easily swung round to the trough, 

 where the potatoes are washed, and then filled. A movable 

 bottom, full of holes, is then placed in the open head, to prevent 

 the potatoes from falling out, and they are again swung round 

 and dropped upon a platform, and a steam-pipe, opened by a 

 cock, introduced under the bottom, which effectually steams 

 them in fifteen minutes. They are then again attached to the 

 lever, swung round, inverted, the movable head taken out, 

 again inverted, and the cooked contents poured into a trough, 

 and the barrel again filled and cooked as before ; so that, from 

 the beginning to the end of the process, they can scarcely be 

 said to be touched with the hand. 



The turnips, with their tops on, are dropped from the cart into 

 the washing trough, and, when washed, are shoved along, and 

 thrown into steaming boxes level with the floor, on which they 

 are washed. These boxes have a false bottom, or grating of 

 iron, under which the steam is introduced by a pipe, and, after 

 being sufficiently cooked, the end of the box is dropped, and 

 they are easily shovelled into a cooling box, set still lower than 

 the other, for their reception. The chaff is steamed in a large 

 closet. All the hay for the cattle is cut by a machine, on an 

 upper floor, and easily shovelled into this closet, where it is 

 steamed by a pipe introduced from the common steam machine. 

 Every thing is contrived to simplify and relieve labor. The 

 food is then put into barrows, and wheeled, through the passages, 

 to the different stock to be fed. The water, which comes from 

 the turnips when steamed, is always saved, and, being mixed 

 with a small quantity of barley meal, is given to the store hogs. 

 It will ferment if left to stand, and is deemed quite nutritious. 

 Oatmeal is used for the stock, when barley meal cannot be ob 

 tained, and is deemed much better. 



The potatoes and turnips are all washed, and shovelled, and 

 steamed, by a single young woman, stout, healthy, active, and 

 energetic, not in appearance much to my taste, as &quot; a fine gentle 

 man,&quot; but entitled to respect for her cheerfulness and good- 

 humor, and for the spirit and fidelity with which she performed 

 her humble duty. Her master spoke of her in the kindest man- 



