A Few Popular Facts About Diffusion. 39 



withdrawn from this cell, and passes on to the clarifiers 

 to be dealt with in the usual course, and to be manufac- 

 tured into sugar. No. i cylinder, or diffusor, when ex- 

 hausted, is disconne6led ; No. 2 ♦hen becoming No. i, 

 and a newly charged diffusor is joined on at the other 

 extremity of the range of cells ; and so the operation 

 goes on continuously day and night. 



The above cells are arranged in a circle in each battery 

 and are situated upstairs in a lofty building. They are 

 readily filled with cane-slices by a travelling shoot, which 

 pivots on the centre column of the battery. There is 

 therefore neither delay, confusion, nor excess of labour 

 in this respe6l ; and three elevators of admirable con- 

 stru6lion, bring up the chips from the slicing machines 

 below to the travelling shoots, which fill the diftusors. 

 We can now go downstairs to the large concrete 

 tank, whence these elevators start, and within which 

 the cane-slicing machinery is situated. This tank 

 is formed of some 300 tons of concrete, and has 

 a displacement of about 150 tons. It stands like an 

 island, surrounded by the water of the mill-dock, and is 

 connefted to the main buildings by a bridge. Four cane- 

 slicing machines, with horizontal cutting discs, fitted 

 with twelve adjustable and easily-removed knives, fed by 

 six angled hoppers, providing a multiple feed for feeding 

 in the canes are placed at regular distances apart within 

 the tank ; and as the canes are sliced, the slices fall into the 

 elevators already mentioned, and go up to the batteries. 



Modern and efficient slicing-machines can now be 

 obtained which dispense with many complications, and 

 they can be fed with a cane-carrier, precisely as with 

 mills, and without extra labour or supervision. 



