1868 The complete Practical Distiller

rOTATOES— PROCESS OF MASIIINQ.

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In the other two ways no combustibles are wanted to convert the fecula into paste proper to be mashed, and by working as heretofore advised for the mashing of grain ; that is, to boil the matter intended for fermenta- tion, whether it be isolated fecula or pulp, with the spent- wash left after distillation. In one case, the pota- toes must be broken between two cylinders ; in the two other cases, it is sufficient to rasp them ; and this opera- tion is not expensive, considering the great quantity that can be rasped by two men. In the first case, the matter submitted to the still is heavy and pasty; it requires more combustibles to be brought to ebullition, and more expense is occasioned through the necessity of continually agitating it; and, without speaking of the bursting of the apparatus which it might cause, the spirit produced from it is always more or less charged with empyreuma. In the other cases, the matter is perfectly fluid, does not require any precaution to be taken in distilling it, and gives a better flavoured The superiority belongs, then, evidently, to the and, of those two, there can be no hesitation in declaring the lat- ter to be the best. 100 kilogrammes of potatoes may thus produce from 50 to 55 litres of spirit at 75°. This spirit, as all potato spirit, has a small taste of the fruit, which is not pleasant, but of which it can be freed by careful rectification. spirit. two last modifications that have been proposed ;