56 



MODERN METHODS AND APPLIANCES. 



There is a wide range of procedure in grinding 1 and pressing cider 

 fruit between the distinctly primitive appliances and method* and 

 those of the modern factory system. Machines of small and medium 

 'capacit} 7 are numerous abroad, and range from the smallest handmills 

 of the meanest construction, with wooden rollers for crushing the 

 fruit, to the finest hand and power machines of the best scientific 

 construction. 



As a general thing the mills which employ a hopper into which the 

 fruit is thrown, whence it is fed (by gravity) onto a rotary grating or 



crushing device, marks 

 the initial departure of 

 modern machines from 

 primitive ones. Of such 

 machines there is a great 

 variety in use in Europe, 

 but there is very little to 

 commend in them with one 

 exception, to which atten 

 tion will be called here- 

 after. Man}- of these mills 

 were either American 

 machines or modifications 

 of well-known American 

 types, which do not need 

 to be described here. But 

 there is one type of rotary 

 grinding or crushing ma- 

 chine found very com- 

 monly in Germany, but 

 much less frequently in 

 France and England, 



FIG. 6. The "greif " apple crusher of Germany. which appears to deserve 



description and illustra- 

 tion. The origin of this mill is uncertain, but it is thought to be Ger- 

 man. It can readily be used for either hand or power work. This 

 mill is called in German the "greif" (grip) fruit mill, and it is probably 

 the best type for use in ordinaiy work. It is shown as used for hand 

 work in figure 0. In principle this mill goes back to that of the ancient 

 "tour a auge," viz, that of crushing the fruit instead of rasping or 

 grating it, but it appears to accomplish this with greater perfection. 

 The capacity, of course, depends on the size of the mill. 



In general, experienced persons admit the desirability of preventing, 

 as far as possible, the contact of the pomace and must with metals such 

 as iron. With the mills known as graters, which are now practically 



