38 TiMEHRI. 



this 6 o/o solution, and with it treating fresh slices con- 

 taining again 12 0/0 sucrose, a 9 0/0 solution will be 

 attained, which on being brought a third time in contaft 

 with fresh slices would be raised to a density of io"5 0/0, 

 and so on. 



In working the process, ranges of from 14 to 16 cells, 

 called the Diffusion Batteries, are in use at Nonpareil ; 

 10 or 14 cells being in operatiou, while the others are 

 being emptied, cleaned and re-filled, These cells are 

 termed Diffusors, and consist of large, close, upright 

 cylinders, capable of holding each about 36 to 40 cwts. 

 of sliced canes. They are provided with inlets and out- 

 lets, and pipes for inter-communication, so that the fluid 

 contents of any one cell can be forced by pressure into 

 any other. The cells measure twelve-and-a-half feet in 

 total depth of contents, by four feet aud three inches 

 diameter. And, I may here mention that much larger 

 cells than these are now in use in Cuba and the Sandwich 

 Islands, which are capable of holding two-and-a-half to 

 three tons of cane-slices. 



The added water of Diffusion is run from an elevated 

 tank into No. i DifEusor, which contains the slices almost 

 exhausted of their soluble saccharine contents. It perco- 

 lates the entire mass, and by pressure passes onwards 

 into No. 2 Diffusor, where it again a6ls on slices some- 

 what richer in juice. So it goes through the series of 

 cells, acquiring a greater density in its progress, and 

 meeting in each successive cylinder, slices increasingly 

 rich in juice; and under the combined influence of heat 

 and pressure, the juice within the last diffusor, containing 

 fresh cane-slices, becomes richly charged with sugar. A 

 draught of about 400 gallons of diffusion-juice is now 



