60 



" The defecating operator must always be a man of ex- 

 perience, as much must be left to bis empirical judgment. 



" The total cost for the defecating department of a 500-acre 

 factory is given at c£295. 



" 5. The scmtis of Defecation. — The scums formed during 

 the process of defecation of the beetroot juice, being rich in 

 saccharine matter, must be made to give up as much of their 

 valuable contents as possible ; and this is effected by collecting 

 them into a special reservoir, and the action of powerful 

 presses, followed by other minor processes. 



" The " dead " scums constitute a valuable fertiliser, rich in 

 nitrogen and lime, and are hoarded with care for sale to the 

 farmers. 



" The total cost of the "scum" department of a 500-acre 

 factory would be .£134. 



" 6. Carhonatation. — This process is the saturation of the 

 defecated beetroot juice by means of carbonic acid gas, which 

 may be effected in a simple, easy, and cheap manner by the 

 combustion of charcoal. The combined defecated and scum 

 juices are conveyed into carhonatation pans, and the carbonic 

 acid is passed through the liquid. When the " foaming " has 

 ceased, the carbonatated juice is run into large receivers, to 

 Bettle, after which the juice is ready for the filters. 



" The deposit formed during carhonatation is a valuable 

 manure, which must not be lost or wasted. 



" The total cost for the carhonatation department of a 500- 

 acre factory is stated at ^632. 



" 7. Filtration and concentration of tlie juice. — Is the next 

 process after leaving the carhonatation pans, and usually takes 

 place twice before crystalized sugar is produced. The first 

 filtration is that of the carbonatated juice, the second is this 

 juice after evaporation until it has become a thin " syrup." 

 Evaporating pans were formerly simple contrivances, and con- 

 sisted of open boilers ; but these have now given way to the 

 more perfect appliances known as the " triple-effect vacuum 

 pans." 



" The total cost of the filtering department is .£595 ; and 

 of the concentration and boiling department of a 500-acre 

 factory is given at de2,300. 



" 8. Bone-llach, or animal charcoal. — Is a very important 

 item in the manufacture of beet sugar. The average quantity 

 needed is 20 per cent, of the quantity of beets, by weight, 

 worked up every 24 hours. A factory consuming 150,0001bs. 

 of beetroot per diem, would thus need 30,0001bs. of bone- 

 black. The residue from the bone-black washer is collected 

 in cisterns, where it deposits itself as fine mud, and constitutes 

 a highly valuable fertilizer. 



