SUGAR. 



199 



small return of crystallizable sugar and a large quantity of inferior 

 molasses. Neither were the mills of sufficient extracting power. 

 This may be better appreciated by perusing the following schedule 

 of extraction. 



One hundred pounds of canes yielding juice of 10° B. will, at 50 per 

 cent, extraction, give, in cane juice, 4*714 gallons. 



Gallons. 



55 per cent, will give 5 * 185 



60 „ „ 5-657 



65 „ „ 6-128 



70 ,. „ 6-600 



75 „ „ 7-071 



80 „ „ 7-543 



When the factories were first established, mills, such as they now 

 use, or those used on the larger properties of Cuba and Porto Rico, 

 were unknown. The inferior mills employed, and of v/hich I saw 

 some dismantled, could extract but a portion of the juice contained in 

 the cane, but gradually, as these Usines fell under the sole direction 

 of practical men, these evils were remedied. At Pointe Simon a 

 powerful mill and engine was introduced, by the side of which the 

 first one used was a mere plaything ; the new one extracts from 68 to 

 72 per cent, of juice from the cane, whilst the former failed to extract 

 60 per cent, and during many days consecutively ; and at intervals I 

 saw the average quantity of cane juice extracted per hour was 2680 

 gallons. The rollers of this mill are 1 metre 60 centim. long 

 (69 inches), by 80 centim. diameter (31J inches), and make 2^ 

 revolutions per minute. 



The coppers were discarded, and the " triple effet," as used in 

 the beetroot factories, was introduced, and found to work success- 

 fully. The vacuum-pan and other machinery was enlarged, and this 

 Usine, which at first could scarcely manufacture ten hogsheads of 

 sugar a day, now produces twenty-five in ten working hours. Intel- 

 ligent men have been employed in each department, and a most 

 complete success is the result. 



The projectors of new factories, profiting by experience acquired, 

 adopted at once those portions of machinery which had proved most 

 effective ; and M. Bougenot, in his Usine at Frangois, has fully de- 

 monstrated the advantages of a judicious combination of machinery, 

 and a minute attention to results, by the enormous interest he has 

 yearly divided among the shareholders of his Usine. No doubt this 

 prosperity has served as an incentive to the formation of fresh Usines. 

 Some have been more fortunate than others, but all have paid large 

 dividends, although none of them have been fully worked, as may be 

 seen by the schedule, which shows the work they are capable of 

 doing, and what they have done. As their supply of canes increases, 

 so no doubt will also their profits. I heard of no instance where 

 this had been less than one hundred and thirty-five francs (6Z. 8s. 

 sterling). 



La Benty has produced 27 per cent, per annum on estimated 

 capital. 



