Diffusion Compared with Double Crushing. 3 



72 is equivalent to nearly 14 per cent. It would, 

 therefore, appear at first sight, that diffusion ought 

 to be far more profitable than double crushing. 



Whether this is really the case, however, obviously 

 depends partly upon the question of the relative cost of 

 the two processes. If the increased cost of diffusion is 

 equal to or greater than the increased gain, there will 

 be no economy in introducing it. Let us endeavour to 

 estimate the increased cost of diffusion as compared 

 with double crushing. 



We must consider two cases, one in which a double 

 crushing plant is already in existence, the other in 

 which no plant exists. 



In the first case we will assume that the plant is 

 complete but only sufficient for the manufacture of 

 sugar from the juice obtained. If we assume that the 

 cost of crushing the exhausted chips of cane is equal 

 to the cost of crushing the original cane, and that the 

 exhausted chips are double-crushed, the comparison 

 is much simplified. It is perhaps doubtful whether 

 this is so or not, but probably the difference will not 

 be great either way, and in the absence of sufficient 

 experience it seems at present the safest course to as- 

 sume that the cost of the one is equal to the cost 

 of the other. 



In the case of diffusion we have (i) the cost of the 

 plant, (2) the increased cost of working it, (3) the cost 

 of increased quantity of fuel due : — 

 (a) to the increased evaporation, 

 {b) to the diminished value of the megass as fuel, 

 (4) the cost of packages for the increased quantitv of 

 produce, (5) the cost of drogherage^ of the increased 



A 2 



