74 



MANUFACTURE OF SUGAR. 



which it compresses the megass, will be difficult to apply- 

 as a manure or covering for the earth, for which, in the form 

 it issues from the common mill, it is admirably adapted. 

 Besides, the common method of grinding is simple, well 

 understood,, and free from the complexity of manipulation 

 which the other processes demand ; and although the whole 

 of the juice cannot be extracted by any kind of pressure, 

 it is possible, by improved cylinders and care in regulating 

 their motion, to reduce the quantity remaining in the 

 megass to a very small amount. This subject has attracted 

 the attention of the French Colonists for some time, and 

 has lately been thoroughly investigated by Dr. Mitchell of 

 Trinidad, whose energy and perseverance deserve the 

 grateful thanks of every one interested in this subject. 



From experiments which have been made, it is cer- 

 tain that the mills commonly in use do not extract more 

 than from 50 to 60 per cent, of the juice of the canes 

 passed through them. Indeed, I may say, from what I 

 have myself observed, that the average return scarcely 

 exceeds 50 per cent, or very little more than half the saccha- 

 rine matter contained in the canes ; which shows what a 

 serious loss is sustained by the defective method of 

 pressure alone ; and when to this we add the further loss 

 occasioned by the imperfect process of manufacture, is it to 

 be wondered at, that under the present system of man- 

 agement, sugar estates are unprofitable. M. Daubree 

 does not in the slightest degree exaggerate the loss accru- 

 ing by the usual process, when he states the planter's 



