1846.] Facts for Farmers. 129 



by horse or steam power; then the triturated seed is put into 

 woolen bags, which are wrapped up in hair cloths, and squeezed 

 between upright wedges in press boxes, the wedges driven by a 

 power similar to that used for driving the pestles. The cakes 

 obtained by this first wedge pressure are thrown upon the bed of 

 an edge mill, ground anew, and subjected to a second pressure, 

 aided by heat now, as in the first case. These mortars and press 

 boxes constitute what are called the old Dutch mills, and are by 

 many preferred to the hydraulic press. Ure, speaking of the 

 different improved mills and presses in use in England says: 

 " Hydraulic presses have been of late years introduced into many 

 seed mills in this country; but it is still a matter of dispute 

 whether they, or the old Dutch oil mill, with bags of seed com- 

 pressed between wedges, driven by camstamps, be the preferable: 

 that is, afford the largest product of oil with the same expendi- 

 ture of capital and power." 



For grinding the seed, a mill exhibited at the Mechanics' In- 

 stitute Fair, at New York, by Mr. James Bogardus, is said to be 

 most excellently adapted. 



Castor oil is obtained by pressure, after the hull has been 

 rubbed from the bean. That obtained by cold pressure is best. 



When treating of each species of oleiferous seed by itself, we 

 will enter more particularly into its cultivation, harvesting, manu- 

 facturing of the oil, its use and that of the oil-cake, and of the 

 value of the seed, oil and cake in market, so far as the knowledge 

 may be needful to the grower. 



There is one part of the subject requiring especial notice — it is 

 the injustice done to the farmer by our legislators in the duties 

 levied upon the raw material, the seeds, and upon the manufac- 

 tured article, the oil. 



The first in importance is Flax Seed and Flax. — JYew Orleans 

 Commercial Times. 



IMPORTANT FACTS FOR FARMERS. 



A Question of Bread. — Men have been long investigating 

 truths; and many important truths, as principles, are developed, 

 without being connected with practical purposes, or bringing 

 out facts by application. 



Wheat is known to be the most nutritious of all grains, because 

 it contains a larger quantity of gluten. But I do not know that 

 it is generally understood, except by scientific agriculturists, that 

 this quantity of gluten may be varied both by climate and the 

 character of manure. Yet such is, nevertheless, a well attested 

 fact. 



