47 



the factory sometimes containing not only the fermented mostos from 

 the still but waste molasses as well, have been used for irrigating 

 cane. The water is actually sour but still the cane so irrigated does 

 fairly well, the last crop giving 55.4 tons per acre (plant cane). 

 Fortunately, this soil is well supplied with lime, a good proportion 

 of which is in the form of carbonate. 



Another way of utilizing waste molasses is to make a large under- 

 ground compo-t of cane leaves and molasses, or exhausted mostos. 

 After thorough decomposition this would have considerable fertilizing 

 value. It was tried experimentally at Cartavio; after two months the 

 leaves were partly decomposed; six or eight months would probably 

 effect a thorough decomposition if the compost were kept moist. 



Another line of investigation would be the study of the products 

 of the destructive distillation of molasses. Inflammable gases pro- 

 duced by this process have been satisfactorily burned in the ordinary 

 Bunsen burner. 



There are a number of ways that the exhausted mostos might be 

 utilized. No potash is lost by using molasses for alcohol as the pot- 

 ash remains in the distilled mostos; besides this potash there will be 

 some phosphoric acid and a little nitrogen. If, then, the distilled mos- 

 tos is run on a field that is not in cane, and allowed to remain for 

 some time and turned under, a good deal of benefit will be derived, 

 particularly if there is much lime in the soil. 



Experiments made here have shown that a mixture can be made of 

 mostos with filter-press-cake which, if left standing long enough to 

 permit evaporation, will produce a comparatively dry material con- 

 taining 3.2% potash, and 4.3 % phosphoric acid. A mixture was also 

 made of mostos, filter-press-cake and ashes, and dried. 



The value of any method for the disposal of these waste materials 

 will depend, of course, on its practical utility. 



