14 



Very few analyses of the press-cakes were made, except to determine 

 their value for fertilizing purposes. However, the few analyses that 

 were made are presented in the following table : 



TABLE IV. Analyses of press-cake. 



No record was kept in the sugar-house of the quantity of juice recov- 

 ered by the presses. In fact it would be quite difficult to determine 

 just the proportion of the juice flowing from the presses that would be 

 lost in ordinary work. 



This season we found it necessary to empty one press once for every 

 2,889 gallons of juice expressed by the mills. The total amount of juice 

 was 1,271,205 gallons, hence the number of presses of press-cake was 

 1,271,205 ~ 2,889 = 440. The average weight of the press-cake per 

 press was 330 pounds : 330 x 440 = 145,200 pounds of press-cake for 

 the entire season. The amount of press-cake per ton of cane was 20.15 

 pounds. 



In the work with the 1 experimental press in 1884 on thoroughly 

 drained "blanket" scums the yield of juice was 80 per cent. The aver- 

 age skimmings and settlings, after long standing and decantation of the 

 clear juice, are much thinner than the blanket, and would yield from 85 

 to 90 per cent, juice by filter-pressing. In order to under rather than 

 over estimate the work of the presses, I will base my estimates on the 

 actual yield obtained with the small experimental press. It may be 

 well to state here that the work on a small scale was no better than 

 with the large presses. 



On the above basis the press-cake forms 20 per cent, of the total 

 weight of skimmings filtered, hence 145,200 -t- 20 x 100=726,000, the total 

 number of pounds of skimmings. These figures show that even on a 

 low estimate 6J per cent, of the juice is lost in the skimmings. 



As the presses save at least 80 per cent, of this loss, the saving of 

 juice at Magnolia this season was 580,000 pounds. 



As I have repeatedly stated, I consider this estimate a very low one. 

 I have no doubt but that carefully conducted experiments would show 

 a saving of 820,000 pounds of juice. With the filter-press arrangement 

 at Magnolia it is impossible to keep a separate account of the juice re- 

 covered. 



(Jhem. Bulletin No. 5, p. 59, 



