44 



The original molasses was of very low purity and by the ordinary proc- 

 ess would have yielded a massecuite that could not be successfully cen- 

 trifugaled. Molasses of this grade would be considered of very low 

 purity, even in a Louisiana cane-sugar house. It is very probable that 

 the yield of sugar would have been much larger and the purity corre- 

 sponindgly lower could this massecuite have been left in the wagons 

 until late in the summer. 



The advantage of the alcohol treatment is more apparent in the case 

 of the Fort Scott molasses than in that from Medicine Lodge. In the 

 first case the molasses would have yielded about 2J pounds per gallon 

 of sugar polarizing less than 80. This assumption is based on the 

 yields obtained from molasses of similar grades, by the ordinary proc- 

 ess, as given in this report. The Fort Scott molasses in question would 

 not, under any circumstances, repay further efforts to obtain sugar by 

 the ordinary method of treatment. 



NOTES ON DAILY WOBKING OF EXPERIMENTAL FACTORY. 



A diary of the daily working of the experimental factory for the 

 whole season would prove of little benefit, but an illustration of the 

 method of conducting the work embracing the first week of actual 

 manufacture may not be found out of place. 



FOE WEEK COMMENCING MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 28. 



Monday was devoted to making certain alterations in the house, connecting the 

 strike pan with the live steam and other necessary adjustments. Monday afternoon 

 started to cutting Colman cane, and six loads were brought in. At 7 o'clock Tues- 

 day morning the cutters were started and ran regularly during the day, stopping an 

 hour in the afternoon on account of the failure of the triple-effect to keep the juice 

 evaporated. This failure was due to the experience in management of the pans rather 

 than to any lack of capacity. 



The two acres, approximately, of Coleman cane, were finished about half-past 10, 

 and the sirup was boiled out by 2 o'clock Wednesday morning. More trouble was 

 experienced with the pump taking the sirup from the triple effect. It often refused 

 to work and quite a quantity of sirup was lost in adjusting it. The sirup made, 

 however, was of a fair quality and showed considerable inversion in the triple 

 effect, as shown by the increase in the glucose ration, shown in the analytical data. 



The sirup was collected in one tank and thoroughly mixed and then equally divided 

 into two portions. 



On Wednesday the men were set to cleaning up, and the divided sirup was boiled, 

 the first part of it without treatment with alcohol. It was boiled to grain ; the grain 

 being very fine, it was placed in the hot-room until Saturday. In the afternoon of 

 Wednesday the cutters were placed to work on variety No. 160, and eight loads of 

 this variety were delivered. 



Wednesday night a severe wind and rain storm struck us, which raged during the 

 whole day Thursday. Not being able to get in the remainder of variety No. 160, the 

 part of it which was in was not worked, in the expectation of a clear day follow- 

 ing, when the whole of the plot could be worked together. On Friday, however, 

 the sky was still overcast, some showers followed during the day, and the field was 

 so soft and mushy that it was impracticable to go on it with wagons. The cutting 

 of the remaining portion of variety No. 160 was therefore postponed until Saturday. 

 During Friday the second half of the sirup from the Colman cane was treated with 



