AGRICULTUEAL ALCOHOL IN GEBMAlirY. 33 



amounted to somewhat less than 5,512 bushels (1,000 Scheffel). All 

 of the potatoes exce]3t those reserved for the house and for seed 

 purposes were used in the distillery. One large structure serves as 

 home, barn, granary, etc., but the distillery is in a separate building. 

 The equipment dates from 1848 and is of the Pistorius type. Work 

 began at 2.30 a. m., and the pay was $2.38 per week with meals while 

 at work. The season began in September and was supposed to last 

 until May. 



About 20 bushels of potatoes were used each day. After being 

 steamed they were mashed in a hand mill, the saccharine fermenta- 

 tion was started with malt prepared in the cellar of the house, and 

 the alcoholic fermentation was started with brewers' yeast. The 

 capacity of the three tubs amounted, respectively, to 246, 272, and 

 248 gallons. The yeast, which was kept in a large vat outside the 

 building, looked more like the liquid in a manure pit than like any 

 well-prepared or preserved yeast. From the fermenting vats the 

 mash was lifted by means of buckets into a trough which carried it 

 to a warming apparatus (Vorwarmer). This in turn served to con- 

 dense the water from the still, thus concentrating the spirits. The 

 large flat still was heated with direct fire. The distiller's book 

 showed that the average yield of alcohol was from 5 to 7 per cent. 

 The strength of the spirits obtained was from 48 to 60 per cent. 

 Two revenue officers, who were visited later, stated that 5 per cent 

 was rarely, if ever, obtained, at least in their district. 



The waste material went to the barn, where it was fed to the cattle. 

 At that time 20 milch cows and 5 oxen were being fattened. About 

 150 to 160 pounds of milk a day were obtained, which sold for 3.6 

 cents per quart to the milk seller, who peddled it in Munich. Po- 

 tatoes were valued at the cooperative distillery at 19 to 20 cents per 

 bushel. Alcohol sold at 61 cents per gallon, with a tax of about 9.9 

 cents per gallon. 



As to whether the distillery paid, the distiller had no idea other 

 than that the spent mash or waste was necessary for the cows. That 

 the same by-product could be had from the cooperative distillery he 

 evidently did not consider. 



Of the medium-sized distilleries only one was visited. The farm 

 on which it was located had about 247 acres of cultivated land. 

 There was a very large building, which served all purposes from a 

 dwelling for the family to a stable for the animals, and it all made 

 an excellent impression. 



On the whole, tlie conditions on a large farm diffci- but little from 

 tlio.sc observed on the small estates in the North. The main differ- 

 ence is probably that the proprietor himself works with all the mem- 

 bers of his family. The distillcc on this farm hi».d no assistant, but 



