No, 149.] 457 



The evils attendant upon the imperfect manner of keeping, of 

 manufacturing, and of attempted preservation of this grain, has 

 been a subject of deep and earnest consideration with me for 

 more than twenty-five years, during which time I have been 

 mostly engaged with its manufacture in different shapes, or in 

 feeding it. The conclusion I came to several years since, was, 

 that Indian corn, when divested from the cob, could not be trans- 

 ported in bulk or in sacks, confined in the hold of a vessel, nor 

 be kept in bins without undergoing chemical changes which un- 

 fitted it for use for man or animals. That the exclusion of the 

 moisture of the manufactured grain by a low degree of heat, if a 

 proper evaporation of expelled moisture could be secured, was all 

 that was requisite to prevent its undergoing change if it was im- 

 mediately placed in the usual packages and excluded from the 

 atmosphere. That the exclusion of the moisture did not detract 

 from the nutritious qualities, as it was essential to the reproduc- 

 tion of the grain that it should be thoroughly dried, as is always 

 practised by the grower with his seed corn. That the grain being 

 composed of different substances, some soft and spongy, while 

 others were of diflfereut degrees of hardness ; that the process of 

 manufacture by the time-honored practice of grinding was irra- 

 tional ; that the soft portions were pulverized into dust while the 

 harder were rendered in size according to their relative density, 

 and that in cooking a large proportion would either not be proper- 

 ly cooked, while the balance would be unfit for human digestion ; 

 and hence the partiality that is known to exist for the coarse and 

 even manufacture of this grain, known as hommony. 



That I have been successful in the process of excluding the 

 moisture without changing the color, quality, or flavor of the 

 grain, the numerous testimonials and samples I herewith lay be- 

 fore this meeting will adduce. That I have also improved the 

 mode of manufacture, the evenness and distinctness of the parti- 

 cles in the samples herewith shown, and the entire absence of 

 dust will demonstrate. These improved processes must convince 

 you, gentlemen, as they have all others who have seen or used 

 them, that our greatest staple can be made available in most in- 

 viting forms, not only to our own people, who are accustomed to 

 the daily use of Indian corn, but to all classes in all other parts 



