44 



the lumps. The press has a little tendency in this direction, but 

 careless handling may accentuate this condition. Citrate which 

 comes from the centrifugal is in a dry pulverulent state in which 

 it dries rapidly, and the resultant dried citrate is freed from 

 lumps, and is softer and more friable than that which had been 

 pressed. 



The advantages to be gained by the use of the centrifugal may 

 be summed up as follows : — 



a. Convenient and rapid handling. 



b. Rapid and thorough removal of water. 



c. Convenient washing. 



d. More rapid drying in drier, and consequent saving of 



time and fuel. 

 c. Better condition of finished citrate. 



Where citrate of lime is made on a large scale I have no doubt 

 that the use of the centrifugal instead of the press is to be recom- 

 mended, for it should be found very materially to improve the 

 conditions of working. 



CITRATE OF LIME. 



Mr. JOSEPH JONES, Curator of the Botanic Station, Dominica, 

 has submitted the following note on citrate of lime in Dom- 

 inica : — 



The manufacture of citrate of lime in Dominica was taken up 

 a short time ago by one firm, and the results of these initial 

 experiments have proved very satisfactory. The citrate was 

 favourably reported on in London, and the analysis showed 69 

 per cent of citric acid. 



The quantity of citrate of lime exported from Dominica to 

 December 30, 1906, was 728 cwt., valued at £1,555, an d so suc- 

 cessful have been these early efforts that very considerable 

 development along these lines may be expected in the near 

 future. 



At present the bulk of the lime juice produced in Dominica is 

 concentrated for export. Under this system there is a great loss 

 of acid. If citrate of lime is carefully made there should be a very 

 small loss of citric acid, and although it is more expensive to 

 manufacture, it is a superior product and commands a higher 

 price than concentrated juice.* 



It is probable that along the Leeward side of Dominica where 

 transport by water is but rarely interrupted by bad weather, a 

 factory or factories for making citrate may be erected, and the 

 raw juice purchased from the estates and small growers. Pro- 



*It is calculated that in making concentrated juice the loss of acid may be about 

 6 to 16 per cent, under conditions of careful working, whereas in making citrate it 

 may perhaps be put down at about 3 per cent. Making citrate requires more care 

 and skill than is necessary for the manufacture of concentrated juice, and the cost 

 of the chalk has to be added to the cost of working. There is probably little or no 

 saving in fuel in making citrate, no saving of freight, and possibly little saving in 

 packages. [Ed. W. I. B.) 



