SUGAR CANE 



325 



temperature. This mixture of sugar and molasses (called 

 masse cuite) is drawn into a centrifugal machine with 

 perforated wire gauze sides placed within a solid iron 

 vessel. By a rapid rotation of this machine, the liquid 

 molasses is thrown through the wire gauze into the outer 

 vessel, while the sugar is retained in the centrifugal. By 

 using water or other washes, any grade of sugar may be 



FIG. 280. MACHINE FOR TRANSFERRING CANE FROM CARS TO CARRIER 



made. By again cooking the molasses separated from the 

 first sugar, second sugar, usually termed " seconds," may 

 be obtained. The molasses from the second sugar may 

 be made to yield third sugar, or "thirds." 



There are a few open-kettle sugar houses left in Loui- 

 siana. These differ from the above in that the syrup is 

 cooked directly in open pans or kettles to a heavy density 

 and placed in vessels (called coolers) to crystallize. In 

 a few days this crystallized mass may be either potted 



