66 THE CHINESE SUGAR-CANE. 



and the power of the mules will warrant. An 

 active hand will feed the mill easily, if the canes 

 be placed within his reach. A boy is required 

 to drive, and if the mill be well constructed to 

 throw off the begass from behind, nothing more 

 is required except an occasional removal of the 

 latter by a pitchfork, to keep it out of the way 

 of the mules. 



" BoiLiNa DOWN. — One of the first things done, 

 in commencing operations, should be to start the 

 lire under the kettles, that they may be well 

 warmed by the time the juice is ready for them. 

 The fires should be so arranged that they may 

 be under good control, to be forced or withdrawn 

 as occasion may require. When the juice is 

 placed in the boiler, the fire should be gradually 

 increased to a simmering heat, "not to active 

 boiling,*' and maintained at this temperature 

 until a thick green scum rises to the surface 

 and forms into puffs, seeming ready to crack. 

 This scum, when fully formed, should be removed 

 clean from the surface. The heat may now be 

 raised to boiling, and kept in an active state of 

 ebullition, until the bulk is reduced one half. 

 The fire may now be removed from one kettle, 

 and 'its contents be transferred to the other, when 

 the heat must be gradually moderated as the 



