Proceedings of the Farmer;^ Club. 181 



Oue man turued the machine and two men fed it. In the first trial 

 the machine cut twentj'-five pounds of hay, one and a half inches 

 long, in forty seconds. The second trial, twenty-five pounds, two 

 inches long, forty-two seconds. The third trial, twenty-five pounds, 

 one inch long, forty seconds. The work was very neatly done. 

 The machine has one, or can be worked with two knives, and will 

 cut fodder one inch, one and a half, two or three inches long, 

 at pleasure. The knife is of a spiral form, and the bedpiece is 

 adjusted to the knife. This cutter runs very easy, seems to be 

 durable, and not at all liable to get out of order, and admirably 

 adapted to the wants of heedless laborers, as well as those who 

 have not sufficient skill to keep a more complicated cutter in order. 

 Pieces of hard, barrel hoops and seasoned sticks of hard wood were 

 fed into the machine when in rapid motion, without the least injury 

 to any part of it. After the knives had cut these hard and knotty 

 hoops, several pieces of paper were put through the machine, 

 which the knife shaved into pieces as neatly as it could be done 

 with a pair of sharp shears. Only a few bundles of Indian corn 

 stalks could be obtained at this season of the year. Yet enough 

 were procured to satisfy the committee that this cutter will reduce 

 corn stalks to chaflF with great rapidity, cutting them fully twice as 

 fast as hay or straw can be cut with the same machine. 



CANNING GRAPES, 



Inquiry was made by J. M. Clemmens, Granville, Ohio, how to 

 can grapes so as to prevent tartar deposits. 



The Chairman, — My folks canned fifty glass jars of grapes, and 

 they kept well. Tin cans are not fit, and I do not want them 

 about. 



Mr, Squire, — ^The grapes should be cooked well, and then stand 

 fifteen minutes. 



Dr. J. V. C. Smith. — Why do we not imitate the Spaniards of 

 Malaga, and pack our grapes? It is a simple process, and they 

 always succeed, knowing nothing about science, and having never 

 heard of a farmers' club. 



The Chairman. — They are packed in the dust or chips of cork. 

 Sawdust will absorb the flavor of the fruit. 



Mr, Solon Robinson said that rice hulls, not chaff, are good. Mr. 

 Baldwin of New Haven said that formerly the Malaga grapes were 

 packed in jars, but now they use kegs, and the cork, being spongy, 

 absorbs the moisture. 



