£10 Mr. Wotherspoon on steaming Potatoes, 



Dear Sir, 



I SHOULD have wrote you last night, but was prevented by the fatigue of my ride. 

 I did not forget your boiler, but was informed by Mr. Stainten, that they had not 

 any ready-made boilers of any kind. 



In feeding their horses, the Carron Company proceed upon Mr. Curwen's plan. 

 They have three tubs steaming at a time, two of potatoes, and one of chopped straw, 

 chaff, or dusiing-seeds ; they empty one tub of potatoes into a large mash tub, by 

 way of bottom layer, then the tub of chopped straw, and last the remaining tub of 

 potatoes, and the whole is wrought and mixed up with a large wooden pesde : to 

 this they add a small quantity of salt. A bucket is brought for each horse with his 

 feed of corn (bruised betwixt rollers) in the bottom, and his proportion of the po- 

 tatoes is filled in above. When it is emptied into the manger the corn is of course 

 uppermost, and the horse-feeder puts his hand through the feed to mix it. 



The proportions they give to their large horses in the works are, at mid-day seven 

 pounds of potatoes (raw weight) to each horse, and one pound of cut straw, &c. 

 mixed with his usual quantity of corn; and in the evening fourteen pounds of po- 

 tatoes, and the same quantity of straw mixed with his corn : or they mix the straw 

 in the proportion to the potatoes. They cook twice a day, and give the feed warm. 



At their collieries, where their horses are smaller, they give six pounds at mid- 

 day and twelve at night. 



The Carron Company bought their potatoes this year at 6d. per boll ; and I 

 have to-day bought 200 odd bolls at the same price. 



I understand the scheme is adopted at Kinnaird colliery, at Alloa and Halbeath ; 

 and Mr. Beaumont and I follow these examples. 



I find by experiment that a boll of potatoes weighs 22 stone avoirdupoise. 

 I am, dear Sir, your most obedient servant, 



W. Wotherspoon. 



To John Grieve, Esq. 

 Ramsay Garden, Edinhiirgb. 



Charkstown, Oct. 31, iSoij. 



