■Vol. XII. No. 2St. 



THE AGltlCULTLTKAL XKWS. 



83 



(iitions and animal teediniif in the tropics are iinsuit- 

 abli', iliat it would mean the continual importation of 

 tresh stock and necessitate an alteration in the manage- 

 ment of estates. But that would not be so. The 

 object would be to select within the existing herds — 

 not to select by means of the fortuitous crossing 

 of worthless cows with importeil bulls in a vain 

 endeavour to raise West Indian cattle to the same 

 -tandard that e.xists in countries which are eminently 

 .tdapted for stock-breeding. It is true that some im- 

 provement in feeding and management might be desir- 

 able and in this matter the Agricultural Societies would 

 serve a useful purpose in the dissemination of 

 information and in the provision of veterinary 

 assistance. Further help could be rendered by the Agri- 

 cultural Societies through an introduction of the score- 

 oanl system of judging into the agricultural shows. 



SUGAR INDUSTRY. 



THE USE OF GERMICIDES IN SUGAR 



FACTORIES. 



The loss due to souring which may accompany the 

 storage of molasses has already received attention in the 

 Agricitllitr<d News, in Vol. VII, p. 67 and VIII, p. 257, 

 where alcoholic and acetic fermentations are de.scribed as the 

 result of the contamination of badly made molasses with 

 the causative organisms. Since these bacteria and fungi, to 

 which the trouble is due, abound in unclean places, the 

 necessity for cleanliness in the boiling house, in gutters, in 

 pipes and in puncheons, becomes at once obvious to all. 

 Cleanliness, however, is not alone sufficient. Frequently 

 germicides have to be employed, as for example, in ihe final 

 washing of the molasses cistern, which should be done with 

 Kisulphite of soda or with milk of lime. 



The whole question of the employment of germicides in 

 sugar factories has recently received very thorough attention 

 in the form of a special article by W. L. Owen in the 

 Aiiifrican Siir/ar Industry, for February 191.3. In this 

 the economic advantages of their use is dealt with, and 

 information is presented in regard to the action of the 

 numerous germicides at present on the market The various 

 factors that have to be considered in the selection of these 

 substances are dealt with first. It is pointed out that a sub- 

 stance which is very toxic to the human system, which can 

 be removed only with difficulty from the tanks and apparatus 

 in which it is used, will obviously be unsuited for sugar-house 

 work. Bichloride of mercury is an example of such a disin- 

 fectant. Secondly, the action of the germicide on the metal 

 of which the tanks are constructed has to be taken into con 

 sideration. Generally speaking, acid disinfectants must not 

 he used for this purpose. Then again, the tendency of a 

 germicide to combine with the compounds contained in the 

 solution to be disinfected must be thought of, and it must be 

 borne in mind that the action of some germicides is completely 

 lost when they are applied simultaneously; thus, for example, 



calcium chloride and calcium bisulphite should not be allowed 

 to come in contact on this account. Lastly, there is the 

 relative costs to be considered, including the cost of labour 

 required to apply the disinfectants in the factory. 



The following information abstracted from the source 

 already acknowledged, concerns the properties of certain 

 germicides in relation to their use in sugar factories. 



Ammonium fluoride, especially the acid salt, has a very 

 wide application in distilleries on account of its strong 

 antiseptic powers upon bacteria, and the high resistance of 

 yeasts to it. It is not as well suited for sugar factory work 

 as other germicides, because it slowly attacks metal if used 

 in sufficiently high concentr.itions to be effective as 

 a germicide. Chloride of lime is very suitable for the disin- 

 fection of walls of buildings or for tanks where slime has 

 formed. 



Sulphur dioxide is used for sulphuring raw juices and 

 for disinfecting casks Its penetrating power, however, is 

 not great. Carbon bisulphite is a very energetic germicide 

 and forms an admirable agent for the treatment of tanks and 

 apparatus. It is especially deadly to moulds Milk of lime 

 when freshl)' prepared is an excellent disinfectant for walls, 

 ceilings and woodwork but as soon as it ab.sorbs carbon 

 dioxide from the air, it ceases to have any value as a germi- 

 cide. A mixture of milk of lime and carbolic acid makes an 

 excellent preparation for walls of sugar factories in the gene- 

 ral cleaning that precedes the beginning of the grinding 

 season. Sodium carbonate dissolved in water makes a 'good 

 solution for removing the slime from pipes. 



Antiformin is a preparation which contains active 

 chlorine and not only possesses marked antiseptic powers 

 but also greatly softens organic substances such as gums, and 

 sediment incrustation of tanks. It thus acts as a germicide 

 and a cleaning solution at the same time, and for this reason 

 is a very valuable material to keep on hand. Antigermin is 

 a germicide containing copper and is said to be of great use 

 for cleaning down walls. Montanin is another interesting disin- 

 fectant which contains hydroHuosilic acid (as aluminium fluosil- 

 icate), and is also used for walls. The protection of walls by an 

 application of this substance is due to the pores being sealed 

 bj' the formation of calcium fluoride, alumina and silica, 

 which imparts to the wall a hard, smooth surface Antionin 

 is a germicide which is used largely for moist walls in 

 breweries, and i.s an excellent preventive of dry rot. 

 Lastly, Pyricit is a new preparation consisting of a white 

 powder soluble in water. A 2-per cent solution is said to 

 form a powerful disinfectant which attacks neither wood nor 

 metal, and preserves its strength for a very long time. 



The ancient ceremony, the 'Ploughing Festival' of Siam, 

 is usually observed during the first half of the month of May. 

 It opens the ploughing season and the beginning of rice plant 

 ing. the rains having by this time sufficiently moistened the 

 hard soil to admit of 'wet ploughing', dry ploughing, as a rule, 

 not being practised in Siam. The ploughing ceremony is 

 performed by the Minister of Agriculture, who acts in the 

 pla?e of the King. The Minister, escorted in public procesaioa 

 with native music and the beating of drums, proceeds to the 

 field where mystic rites are performed. This part of the 

 ceremony being finished, the oxen, decorated with garlands of 

 flowers, are fastened to the plough, the first furrow of the 

 season is made, and the early rice is sown. (From the Joxm-- 

 nal of the Roi/al Society of Arts, January 31, 1913.) 



