A Few Popular Facts About Diffusion. 33 



constant touch with all sugar-growing countries, said 

 that from what he had seen and heard of other colonies, 

 and taking into consideration the conditions under which 

 we laboured at Nonpareil, we were at least quite equal 

 to, if not in advance of most Diffusion Fa6lories. What 

 I wish the members of this Society to realize this after- 

 noon is the fa6l that this new process of Diffusion is 

 systematically working in their midst, crop after crop ; 

 and that standing as a process, by itself, it is a commer- 

 cial success. 



Let us now turn our attention for a few moments to 

 the earlier expeflations that were entertained by the 

 various writers conne6led with this Colony, who from 

 time to time referred at intervals to the possibilities of 

 diffusion. 



istly. It was supposed that the capital already invested in Cane Mills 

 would be absolutely wasted; while at the same time further capital 

 must necessarily be sunk in the purchase of the new diffusion machinery 

 proper. 



2ndly. That the time-honoured and convenient custom of unloading 

 canes out of punts on to cane-carriers must be abandoned, and much 

 extra handling of the canes incurred. 



3rdly. That great annoyance, inconvenience, and loss of time would 

 probably be experienced in readily maintaining the efficiency of the 

 Cane Slicing Machinery, especially with reference to the sharpening 

 and changing of the Cutter Knives, 



4thly. That the ordinary supply of Estates' trench-water as obtained 

 from the Conservancies would not suffice either as to quality or possibly 

 as to quantity, for use at the Diffusion Battery. 



5th ly. That after the canes had been sliced and treated in the Diffu- 

 sion Battery, the exhausted slices would be altogether lost as useful 

 fuel. 



6thly. That these useless slices, so far from proving good fuel, like 

 megass, would present themselves as a serious and ever- increasing 

 accumulation of obje6tionable rubbish, which would have to be got rid 

 of in some way or other, at considerable cost. 



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