24 



with said dust, before defecation, dry lime or lime whitewash in powder. Such lime 

 combines with the acid in the dust, and upon a suitable application of heat to the 

 whole forms double precipitates at one and the same time. 



Furthermore, the invention consists in a process of precipitating the matter in the 

 cane-juice cells and cane pulp, or in the juice of any sugar-producing plant, however 

 obtained, by exposing the juice or material under treatment to a temperature of over 

 212 F., and subsequently removing the juice from the woody or precipitated mat- 

 ter by washing the same with currents of water. In carrying out this part of the 

 invention I use a cylinder or other suitable vessel in which the temperature is raised 

 to the required degree (about '212 F.) for defecation and precipitation of the mat- 

 ter capable of being precipitated, whether the same be contained in 'sugar-cane, 

 sorghum, and maize stalks, reduced to dust or not, or in any saccharine juice, includ- 

 ing maple sap, the temperature varying from 228 to 267 F., according to the ripeness 

 of the material under treatment and other conditions. This vessel is suitably con- 

 structed or provided with means to admit of the introduction of the material to be 

 treated; also, to provide for the forcing out of the exhausted bagasse or refuse, and 

 for the introduction of steam while and after charging it; likewise, steam to act 

 upon the condensed water and released juice and force them out through a filter. 

 Means are also provided for running the wash-water from a series of tanks in suc- 

 cession through said vessel, to act upon the charge therein, and an arrangement of 

 defecating-tank connections for introducing scum, sediment, and sweet wash-water 

 upon a succeeding charge. 



In thepiocess of extracting the saccharine matter of cane, the mixing with the 

 comminuted cane, before the passage of the same into the diffusing apparatus and the 

 defecating of the same, of dry lime or lime whitewash, whereby the material will be 

 thoroughly defecated without the liability of the admixture therewith of the pre. 

 cipitate of the lime, substantially as described. 



The combination with the diffusing tank of one or more defecating tanks, to which 

 the juice is delivered from the diffusing tank, and pipes provided with valves for 

 drawing the skimmings, settlings, and sweet water from said defecating tank or tanks 

 and passing the same into the diffusing tank or vessel, essentially as and for the pur- 

 poses herein set forth. 



In combination with the defecating tank, diffusing tank, and a suitable evaporator, 

 the settling tank provided with a discharge pipe for running the juice into the evap 

 orator, and with means for passing its sediment into the diffusing tank, substantially 

 as described. 



it is seen that Mr. Jennings makes a broad claim for the appli- 

 cation of the process of clarification in the diffusion apparatus for all 

 sugar-producing plants. Mr. Jennings has claimed that the process 

 devised by the Department for the use of lime to prevent inversion in 

 the battery is an infringement on his method. Any one who will care- 

 fully examine Mr. Jenuings's claim, as set forth by himself in his appli- 

 cation for a patent, will see that the two processes are entirely different, 

 not only in principle, but in the method of application. 



In a letter to the Rural World, published on the 13th of December, 

 1888, I endeavor to make this matter clear; following is a copy of the 

 letter : 



UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, 



DIVISION OF CHEMISTRY, 

 Washington, D. C., December 1, 1838. 



EDITOR RURAL WORLD : I have read, in the Rural World of the 22d of November, 

 the letter from O. B.Jennings, of Grover, Colo., in regard to his patent for clarifying 

 cane juices in the diffusion battery. 



