CHAPTER II. 



METHOD OF EXTRACTING THE LARGEST POSSIBLE AMOUNT OF JUICE 



FROM THE CANE VARIETIES OF CANE MILLS LOSS OCCASIONED 



BY IMPERFECT MACHINERY ADVANTAGES OF STEAM POWER FOR 



CANE MILLS — DIRECTIONS FOR THE PREVENTION OF ACIDITY AND 

 VISCOUS FERMENTATION IN CANE JUICE. 



Having examined the state in which sugar exists in 

 the cane, we come now to consider in what manner it can 

 be extracted most abundantly; and on this subject I shall 

 confine myself to the method usually practised of crushing 

 the canes between revolving cylinders ; for although other 

 methods have been advocated for extracting the sugar by 

 slicing and affusion, they present difficulties which will 

 probably prevent their ever being brought into practice, 

 especially if the crushing mill be so improved as to extract 

 as much of the juice as it has lately been found cap- 

 able of doing. The hydraulic press has been proposed 

 and tried but without complete success; and although 

 I understand that a modification of this machine is now 

 being brought into operation, it is not likely to be so effec- 

 tive as the crushing mill ; and, moreover, the solid mass into 



