55 



lows : Ten quarts of semi-sirup were first introduced, and boiled in vacuo to the 

 crystallizing density. A pint of cold semi-sirup was then added, and the contents 

 of the pan again reduced to the crystallizing density. The process of adding a 

 pint of seini-sirup and reducing to the crystallizing density was repeated until the 

 boiling was complete. After a few of these additions had been made, a slight tur- 

 bidity of the sirup was observed. On placing- the sirup now under a microscope and 

 examining it by transmitted light, the turbidity was seen to result from countless 

 microscopic crystals of sugar. The subsequent additions of semi-sirup fed these 

 minute crystals, and they continued to grow in size as long as the operation was con- 

 tinued. 



It is well known to sugar-boilers that it is impossible to crystallize in the pan the 

 sugar from very poor juices. The success, therefore, of this last experiment abun- 

 dantly verifies the results of the chemical analysis, which showed that this Link's 

 Hybrid cane contained on the 29th of January very nearly the same percentage of 

 sugar as when put awny on the 15th of October. Mr. Stroback states that the crys- 

 tallization was as easily produced as at any time during the working season of 1884. 



It is therefore fully established that some varieties of sorghum cane can be pre- 

 served in an inexpensive way without impairment of the sugar until the last of Jan- 

 nary. It is desirable that the experiment be extended to other of the late varieties, 

 notably the Honduras, which yields 15 tons to 30 tons per acre, but does not perfect its 

 sugar during the regular fall working season. 



CENTRAL AND AUXILIARY FACTORIES SIZE OF FACTORIES. 



The complete sugar factory is an expensive establishment, and while 

 most of the work of operating it can be performed by laboring men of 

 ordinary intelligence, there will be required in each of such factories, 

 whether large or small, at least two men whose attainments will com- 

 mand liberal compensation. These are the chemist, or the superintend- 

 ent with a cheaper chemist for an assistant, and the sugar-boiler. 

 Good business management is of course also necessary to success. The 

 chemist and the sugar-boiler can preside over a large as well as over 

 a small factory. Moreover, many of the labors of the factory can be 

 performed with no fewer men in a small than in a large factory. It will 

 therefore be cheaper to work a given amount of cane and to turn out a 

 given amount of product in large than in small factories. The limit, 

 however, beyond which experience so far does not warrant manufact- 

 urers to go is believed to be at a capacity of about 270 tons of cleaned 

 cane per day. 



In order to use to the best advantage the services of the specialists 

 of the business, it has been proposed to establish at convenient places 

 auxiliary factories which shall carry the processes so far as to prepare 

 sirup for the strike-pan. This sirup will be stored in suitable tanks 

 or cisterns and worked for sugar after the close of the season for hand- 

 ling cane. In this way the working season for the central factory may 

 be prolonged to occupy almost the entire year. The auxiliary factories 

 will cost about half or two-thirds as much as the complete factory, 

 capable of taking care of the same amount of cane. As thus arranged, 

 the central factory will, in addition to its own regular season's work, 

 take care of the sirup from two or three of these sirup factories. 



