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REPORT OF THE CHEMIST. OTT 
tures of vacuum evaporation or under atmospheric pressure, gives 
invariably an additional precipitate of matter probably rendered in- 
soluble solely by the increase of density. No such precipitate has at 
any time, with any defecating agent, been observed after filtration 
with wood coal. w weak is its absorptive power, beyond that for 
coloring matters, is shown by the fact that, after filtration through 
paper alone, an improvement of but 0.03 in the exponent was secured 
to sirups from the ordinary lime defecation by subsequent treatment 
with 30 per cent. of the lignite. Below are the averages: 
[Concentrated in double effect.] 
Sirup. | Solids. | Sucrose. | Glucose. Hae: qs 
| 
{ | 
\ After primary filtration 
through paper............ 57.60 | 47.2 | 4.55 81. 94 9. 64 
After subsequent treatment 
with 30 percent. lignite... 62.70 | 51.4 4.7 $1.97 9.58 
Rise in purity co-efficient | 
WIGM Hone ss. 22.. 0s. ccs es Tegette ta EEA Lae Sa ie ane Q.033|F acstesse 
ih! 
Although when freshly ground, and yet containing from 30 to 35 
per cent. of hyroscopic moisture, it can be readily brought to mix 
intimately by mechanical means with the juices, this is scarcely to 
be accomplished in the large and regular quantities required if, hav- 
ing been long prepared, desiccation to 15 or 20 per cent. has not some- 
how been prevented ; in which state, if sufficiently comminuted, it 
excels not only the kneading requirements of patent flour fourfold, 
but becomes even dangerous from lability to spontaneous combus- 
tion. This infers the necessity for a grinder on the premises, with 
engine, foundations, sifters, elevators, mixers, shafting, belting, and 
their like ad libitum, in a structure apart from the factory building 
proper, which last would needs be protected from the attendant dust, 
as another serious sugar-making complication and care. Such a 
plant has been estimated, by a probably competent, Huropean en- 
gineer, to cost, for a 60,000-pound diurnal output, erected upon this 
property, exclusive of the presses and their immediate appurten- 
ances, but inclusive of building, not less than $10,000. Wood coal 
can, on the other bend, saitiy pe prepared during the leisure of idle 
months, at home or elsewhere, ad be mixed in the greatly reduced 
amounts called for, as wanted, with the most simple and inexpensive 
devices, or be stored without injury or danger from season to season. 
Even wood char, however, for satisfactory filtration, should also 
contain a considerable percentage of moisture when ground. Other- 
wise the first run of liquor is likely to come charged with the char, 
requiring refiltration. It appears that this, unlike lignite, may be 
rendered in part too pulverulent, which last the enforced presence of 
sufficient moisture at the time of its reduction is believed to prevent. 
Brown coal, again, is not known to exert even a favorable mechan- 
ical action on the soil’s productiveness; that wood char exercises 
valuable functions in this regard is well understood among agron- 
omists. If in the ordinary filter-pressing of scums and sediments 
well-nigh the entire fertilizing content of the juice itself is already 
secured, leaving no credit for such properly to be conceded to either, 
for this mechanical advantage of charcoal something may well be 
deducted from its estimated first cost to manufacture. It presumably 
absorbs from the juice, also, fertilizing material in excess of the 
