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AGRICULTURE FOR BEGINNERS 



hundred thousand to two hundred and fifty thousand 

 dollars, and a large number of both skilled and unskilled 

 laborers is required to operate it. Such a mill as the 

 above will extract from seventy-five to eighty pounds of 

 juice from every one hundred pounds of cane. The 

 refuse left after the juice is extracted is called " bagasse " 



FIG. 279. TRANSFERRING CANE FROM WAGON TO TROLLEY 



or " megass," and can be used as fuel under the boilers, 

 or made into wrapping paper. The juice is usually treated 

 with sulphur and lime, and then boiled. This treatment 

 brings to the surface a heavy blanket of scums, which is 

 removed and, with the settlings, sent through the filter 

 press, where the juice is extracted and the solid matter 

 (cake) retained in the press. This clarified juice is now 

 evaporated into syrup, either in open vessels or in multiple 

 effects. The syrup is now drawn into the vacuum pan, 

 where it is cooked to grain at a high vacuum and a low 



