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 



i >- ^ 



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 3 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 lying 



