45 



The rasp must be kept perfectly clean by repeated wash- 

 ings ; once a day at least, every part of the machine, and 

 all the tools appertaining to it, should be carefully cleans- 

 ed, because every portion of juice or pulp which is suffer- 

 ed to remain on them, would soon serve as a leaven to ex- 

 cite fermentation. 



It is immaterial what power is used to drive the rasps; 

 animal, water, and steam power, and even wind is some- 

 times used in France. 



CHAPTER IIL 



EXTRACTION OF THE BEET JUICE, 



A variety of machines and of power has been used, for 

 the pressing the pulp, as well as for rasping the roots ; of 

 late the Hydraulic press has superceded almost every oth- 

 er ; for this last operation at least, in large manufactories. 

 The pulp enclosed in bags is submitted to the action of this 

 machine, the bags are usually made of Russia duck, the 

 cloth, though required to be strong, must not be so close 

 that the juice cannot easily pass through it, or they will 

 otherwise burst, on the other hand it must be sufficiently 

 so to prevent the 'puly passing through the tissue. 



This last defect, however, is less to be feared than the first, 

 so that the caution most to be attended to, is to avoid too 

 close a texture, and it must be recollected that it will be- 

 come closer when saturated with the juice. The size of 

 the bags may be varied, but generally speaking half 

 a yard wide, and one yard long is a convenient dimen- 

 sion ; they should not be more than 3-4ths filled. The 

 bags must be kept perfectly clean, they should be washed 

 every day in boiling water, with a small addition of the 



