STEAMING FOOD FOB STOCK 425 



belonging to a threshing machine, and a Prindle boiler, 

 changing to one, the engine or mill, at a future day, if it 

 seems desirable. 



It is hardly prudent to make any positive calculations in 

 advance of actual experiment, but I anticipate and I base 

 my calculations on a very careful survey of the whole field 

 a saving of about forty per cent, in the cost of feeding 

 my stock, over the present system of feeding only the best 

 hay uncut. A part of the saving will be due to the more 

 digestible condition of the food, and a part to the fact that 

 a much cheaper quality of hay, or straw, or corn-stalks can 

 be largely used. A saving of very much less than this, 

 when from thirty to forty head are to be provided for, will 

 be enough to make a fair profit on the business. 



The various uses for which steam can be adapted seems 

 to be but little understood by the masses. Fear of explo- 

 sions, scalding, &c., as well as want of knowledge of its 

 great advantages, has thus far prevented its general intro- 

 duction. 



The want of a perfectly safe and easily managed low 

 pressure apparatus with which to accomplish all the require- 

 ments of domestic use, has also been a great drawback. 

 The great advantages of cooking, heating, boiling, &c., by 

 steam, are obvious when it is remembered that it can be 

 done with much less water arid fuel, requiring but little care 

 of the operator, and using wooden vessels (if desired) of any' 

 kind, size, or shape (a great desideratum). By its use there 



