84 



of only 150 tons of cane a day, especially where rail transportation is 

 used. 



A regular and adequate system for handling and clarifying all of the 

 juice extracted by the mill should be operated. This should consist of 

 liming tank and an ample supply of settling tanks so that the juice may 

 remain in them long enough for all of the sediment to settle to the 

 bottom and permit the scums to rise to the surface. A modem filter 

 press should be installed for handling all of the sediment and scum from 

 the settling tanks. The entire open kettle evaporating outfit should 

 be replaced by the installation of steam evaporating apparatus either 

 of the open kettle or vacuum type. If actual capital is limited, a com- 

 bination may be made by installing open kettle clarifiers and syrup 

 pans with a vacuum pan for finishing the sugar. However, for a small 

 plantation mill great economy would result by the installation of a small 

 double effect, vacuum pan and centrifugal equipment, as shown in the 

 accompanying illustration (Plate XXXIV). These double effects are 

 almost as economical as the triple and quadruple effects described for the 

 large modern mills, and are within the reach of a comparatively small 

 plantation. The installation of effects less than 1.5 meters in diameter or 

 of vacuum pans having a capacity of less than 5 tons at a single charge, 

 is not recommended. A mixer should be provided to accompany the 

 centrifugals for receiving the sugar from the vacuum pans or cooler cars 

 but no elaborate crystallizer outfit is recommended for such reconstructed 

 mills. 



A battery of from three to four 30-inch, belt-driven centrifugals with 

 suspended baskets will be ample for the size of mills under consideration. 



A sugar melting pan can be devised on the plantation out of galvanized 

 iron or wood, and many other articles for convenience can be constructed 

 on the plantation with but little cost. Sugar should be packed in a 

 good quality of burlap bag, and where "plantation granulated" sugar 

 is turned out for local consumption it should be packed in double bags, 

 the inner of which should be made of white cotton cloth. This grade 

 of sugar usually requires some drying which can be accomplished by 

 the use of a rotary drier. An inexpensive form of drier made of a 

 wooden box, carrying a steam coil and fitted with a fan for blowing the 

 sugar through the heated air of the box is a much more desirable 

 form for use in the small mills. 



The general use of scales is recommended for weighing all cane as 

 received at the mill, the juice as it goes to the liming tank and the sugar 

 as delivered from the centrifugals. 



The installation of light portable tramways with 1 to 2 ton cars 

 arranged for animal power is highly recommended for all plantations 

 producing 5,000 tons of cane or more. 



