462 



CHAPTER XXIII 



being considered. For more detailed general treatments reference may be 

 made to Kent's " Steam Boiler Economy," and to Kreisinger and Ray, 

 Bull. 18, U.S. Bureau of Mines. 



Steam Value of Bagasse. — It is a matter of observation among those who 

 have had an extended experience in cane sugar factories that at times the 

 bagasse " steams " much worse than at others. Not only is there an in- 

 sufficient production of steam for the wants of the factory, but there is diffi- 

 culty in burning the bagasse. In Demerara, Mauritius, and Hawaii, the 



Fig. 275 



writer has observed this condition associated with the cane known as White 

 Transparent or Rose Bamboo, and in Demerara with " seedlings " generally. 

 The detailed studies of Geerligs and Norris eliminate the question of the 

 fibre of one cane being of more value than another, except in a degree quite 

 insufficient to account for the difference which may be observed ; and al- 

 though low fibre content will account for an insufficiency of fuel it will not 

 explain bad combustion. 



In a detailed study of the matter, Geerligs' observed among other points 

 that there was a great variation in the volume occupied by the same weights 

 of bagasse from different varieties ; the weight of 100 c.c. of bagasse l3ang 



