1904.] United States Food Standards. 



The arrangement of the distilleries, whether for potatoes or 

 grain, consists in almost all cases of a conical steamer. In this 

 the raw material is submitted to the action of compressed 

 steam in order to convert the starchy meal into a pulp. It is 

 then treated in the first mash-tun, which must be well cooled 

 and provided with an effective stirring apparatus. Here malt 

 is added and sugar is formed. The acid process is not 

 much used in Germany, as it renders the residue worthless 

 as food for cattle. " Langmalz " (long or strong malt), mostly 

 prepared from barley, is generally used. The next step is 

 fermentation in large vats containing 440 to 1,100 gallons. 

 Pure culture yeast is generally used for fermentation. The 

 alcohol formed by fermentation is obtained from the mash by 

 distilling. This distilling process in Germany is generally a 

 continuous one with the aid of a " column apparatus " ; the 

 old stills are almost completely abandoned. The raw spirit 

 thus obtained is rectified in special refineries. By the use of 

 Ilge's apparatus a good spirit can be obtained directly from 

 the mash. 



The residue from the whole process is much used as a food 

 for cattle, and is, perhaps, as valuable as the spirit itself. 



Alcohol is beginning to be used in Germany for motor 

 purposes, and small motors up to 25 h.p. are already at work. 

 It is, of course, difficult to say to what exact extent they have 

 already been adopted, as this would require careful and numerous 

 inquiries in many directions. There is no doubt that the 

 French are ahead of the Germans with regard to the application 

 of alcohol to motive purposes. A large exhibition was held at 

 the beginning of the year at Paris, where many machines for 

 driving with alcohol were shewn by different firms. 



United States Food Standards. 



The Agricultural Appropriations Act, passed by the United 

 States Senate on the 25th February last, contains provision for 

 the examination at the ports of entry of any imported food 

 suspected to contain substances injurious to health, or which 

 are falsely labelled or branded. 



