SUS SCROFA. 



in boiling alcohol. The proportion is eighty gallons of lard 

 to one of alcohol. The application of stearine for making 

 candles promises greatly to reduce the price of that article, 

 so that candles equal to spermaceti may eventually be ob- 

 tained for twelve and a half cents per pound. 



As the capillary attraction of the lard-oil is not so great as 

 that of sperm, it is recommended that the form of the lamp 

 should be such as to bring the bulk of the oil as near to the 

 point of combustion as possible. It is also recommended 

 that the tube should be filed thinner at the top, where the 

 wick is inserted, to prevent the escape of heat. Various lamps 

 have been constructed for burning lard as well as lard-oil, 

 which have been found to answer very well. The burning 

 of this oil has been introduced with entire success into the 

 lighthouses on Lake Erie. An objection has been made 

 against lard-oil, that it is not capable of being preserved in a 

 liquid state in cold weather, but by a process similar to that 

 by which the winter sperm is prepared, lard-oil can be made 

 which will not chill at 30 of Fahrenheit. 



The importance of this application of lard can scarcely yet be 

 realized. Vast quantities of the oil can be manufactured at 

 the West. Indeed, there is hardly an assignable limit to the 

 power of production of the article, so that, while the demand 

 continues, the business may be conducted profitably. 



The proportion of lard to the whole hog is about sixty per 

 cent, after taking out the hams and shoulders ; or taking out 

 the hams only, the estimate for hogs of the best breeds, and so 

 fed as to produce the greatest quantity of fat, is seventy per 

 cent. 



By a new process of steaming (a very simple method de- 

 scribed by Mr. Stafford) it appears that the whole of the lard 

 or oily matter in the hog, or of tallow in cattle, may be ob- 

 tained, while the danger of burning (common in other modes) 

 is avoided, the consumption of fuel is lessened, and the degree 

 of pressure required not so great as otherwise. It will be 

 recollected that, while conducting the manufacture of lard, 

 the other parts of the animal, as the hams and shoulders, may 

 be turned to profit. Besides these, also, the hides may be 

 tanned by a cheap process, and the bones, which are worth half 

 a cent per pound, may be calcined and made into animal car- 

 bon, for which they are said to be worth, in this calcined state, 

 two cents and a half per pound. (Ellsworth's Report.) 



8 



