Flour Manufacture. By P. Kick. Translated by H. H. P.
Powles. (Crosby Lockwood and Son.)—Modern milling has made gigantic strides during the last century, and has been shown to be capable of a refinement in method and machinery undreamt of by the earlier millers. Milling machinery has become a distinct branch of mechanical engineering, and any day may see some new and more finished "plant" patented. Herr Kick starts with the life-history of grain, and takes us through the preliminary stages of cleaning, scouring, and husking. Then, when the grain is ready for grinding, we come to the consideration of millstones, the various qualities of stone, the form of furrows, and other niceties, which are mathematically criticised, the manner of dressing the stone for this purpose being carefully explained. Rollers and millstones are now compared, and the economy of the former placed before the reader. This concludes the actual subject of grinding. Next in order come cooling and sifting. These bring us to the question of " high " and "low" grinding, which is fully and popularly discussed. This finishes the manufacturing section of the work. Dressing and purifying prepare the flour for drying, packing, storage, &c., and some precautions conclude the first part, an index also adding much to the value of the volume. Attention is given to mill-engines and plans, testing, and micro- scopical examination. A supplement is added, dealing with recent progress in some of the branches of the manufacture, such as crushing, disc and roller-mills, and silos. Something is said about adulteration of flour, and an account is given of an English and a Hungarian mill. Herr Kick's volume sums up the present standing of flour manufacture, making a work of reference which, in scientific treatment and grasp of essential facts, is superior to any handbook of flour technology we possess. It will be hardly necessary to state, therefore, that all intelligent millers should possess themselves of it. We are far behind our Continental rivals in this science of milling
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