15 Dec, 1919.] 



The Beet Sugar ]ndustri/. 



729 



The diffusion juice is heated and run into earbonatation tanks, where 

 it is treated with lime milk and earbon-di-oxide gas drawn fi*om the 

 lime-kiln. This is the chief refining process, the impurities being largely 

 decomposed and precipitated, and the juice sterilized. 



The lime with the impurities is removed by forcing the juice through 

 frame filter presses lined with double layers of cott/On duck. The juice 

 is given a second earbonatation and filtering, and is then run to the 

 sulphur tanks, where it is treated with sulphurous acid, and well heated 

 to further purify and clarify it. Following another filtration, the thin 

 refined juice is taken to the quadruple-effect evaporators, where the 

 excess moisture is removed by boiling under the influence of a vacuum. 

 The concentrated juice is filtered and taken to a large vacuum pan, where 

 it is boiled to a mass of sugar grain and molasses, termed melada. This 

 melada is run into high speed centrifugal machines, whereby the molasses 

 is separated from the sugar crystals, which are washed, dried in a 

 granulator, and bagged ready for consumption. Eight tons of good 

 quality beets effectively treated should produce 1 ton of white granulated 

 sugar.' 



The first molasses is re-boiled for a second-grade sugar and molasses, 

 and this sugar is mixed with the fresh juices and further refined to 

 white sugar. The second molasses is either re-boiled for a third sugar, 

 or if final, is sold for stock food molasses, or used for the manufacture 

 of methylated spirit. 



The Maffra factory cuts about 200 tons of beets a day, but with 

 increasing costs of material, labour, &c., it would naturally run to much 

 greater advantage if re-modelled on a 500-ton basis. Large quantities 

 of coal, bags, filtering material, limerock, and manufacturing supplies 

 are used. 



About 140 men are required for factory operations. All mechanical 

 repairs are effected on the spot, as the. plant has to run continuously 

 day and night for three or four months. 



The technical results are carefully watched, and manufacturing 

 results regulated throughout by comprehensive chemical analyses. 



A live sugar factory stimulates a country district to a remarkable 

 degree, and is a great acquisition, attraction, and advantage to all 

 parties, particularly to the farmers' sons, as it distui'bs the ordinary 

 monotony of farm life. 



Wholesale sugar prices since the re-opening of the factory have been 

 approximately as follows: — 



1910 

 1911 

 1912 

 191 :^ 

 19U 



{To he continued.) 



