240 N. n. STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



In tlic late published volumes of Commodore Perry's ex- 

 pedition to Japan, I find an account of the sugar mills of 

 the Island of Lew Chew. These mills consist of three 

 upright cylinders of hard wood, supported in an upright 

 position, by means of a wooden frame. The cylinders are 

 about a foot in diameter, and arranged in a row, with a 

 mortice between them to regulate the approach and their 

 pressure upon the cane. The central one has a wooden 

 axle, or shaft extending through the frame which supports 

 it, to which is attached a curved lever of fifteen feet in 

 length, by which the mill is readily worked. This central 

 cylinder has a row of cogs of hard wood near its upper 

 end, which play into mortices cut into each of the other 

 two cylinders. A single bull or horse is generally used to 

 work the mill, and the animal moves in a circle of about 

 thirty feet in diameter. The cane is placed first between 

 the central and right hand cylinders, and, before it escapes, 

 is caught in the hand of the workman, and, being twisted 

 like a rope, is thrust between the central and left rollers, 

 by which it is completely crushed and its juice expressed, 

 which flows through gutters into a tub, placed in a hole 

 near by. The juice is then conveyed to buildings, tempo- 

 rarily constructed for the purpose, and there boiled in iron 

 pans, holding about eight or ten gallons. 



In connection with the above description, there is a well 

 executed engraving, showing two mills in use, and many 

 other of the operations in sugar making. The plate re- 

 minds one very strongly of an old fashioned mill for grind- 

 ing apples for cider. 



The foregoing descriptions are so intelligible, that we 

 think every millwright would readily construct one, and if 

 the manufacture of syrup is found profitable it will then do 

 to "go in" for more costly fixtures, <i;c. 



L. BARTLBTT. 



Warner, March 13, 1857. 



