3G RETORT OF TUE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE. 



In the diffusion process, the slices are brought into immediate con- 

 tact with the diffusive liquid. 



The advantages of this process of obtaining the saccharine matter 

 from the cane over the old one by pressure are: 



1. Greater amount of saccharine matter obtained from the same 

 amount of cane. 



2. The juice is only slightly charged with impurities and needs, there- 

 fore, less defecation. 



3. Xo receiving boxes needed, less skimmings and no settlings. 



4. The cane may be rich, healthy, or old, sour, frost-bitten, windrowed, 

 yet all the amount of saccharine matter in it will be obtained in a com- 

 paratively pure condition. 



With the apparatus worked, the following result was obtained as de- 

 scribed by Mr. Sieg : 



The cane at disposal had been frost-bitten twice. The first time on 

 the 24th of October, and the second time, a month later, on the 23d of 

 November. It had been windrowed since the end of November, and 

 presented a very bad appearance, so that fully one-third had to be cut 

 off and left in the field, that third being more or less rotten. 



Work began on the 18th of December, 1873, and was finished with 

 five interruptions of more or less duration, owing to the holidays and 

 other causes, on the 3d of January, 1874. 



The cane was carefully weighed under the superintendence of Mr. 

 Archibald Mitchell, of Leeds & Co., in this city, and in presence of any 

 chance visitor. On 40 arpeuts, or 31.80 acres, there was obtained in all 

 95 7,000 pounds of cane for the cutters, which makes an average of 28,730 

 pounds per acre. The juice pressed from the same cane weighed G.G6° 

 Beaume. The average weight of the single canes for the cutters was 2 

 pounds. 



The juice coming from the diffusers and going into the clarifiers 

 weighed 5.56° Beauine\ 



The total amount of juice obtained was 81.30 pounds from 100 pounds 

 of cane, the latter containing 90 per cent, of juice ; therefore a loss of 

 only 5.61 pounds of cane juice. The best results obtained from the roll- 

 ers showed a loss of 24 pounds of juice from 100 pounds of cane under 

 the most favorable circumstances. 



From the clarifiers it went through five open kettles, was boiled down 

 to 25° Beaume, and went from thence to the vacuum pan in the usual 

 way. 



The amount of saccharine matter obtained was as follows: 



31.8 acres, at 28,750 pounds cane per acre pounds cane.. 057 , 600 



31 hogsheads net production of sugar pounds.. 35,736 



130 barrels molasses, 5,542 gallons, one gallon molasses at 12 pounds do. .. 66, 5U4 



Total of pounds of sugar and molasses 102,240 



which makes, on 957,000 pounds of cane, 10.G7 per cent, of sugar and 

 molasses. 



The great preponderance of molasses over sugar is due to the deteri- 

 orated condition of the cane, and to not having made second and third 



sugars. 



For the puipose of comparison, the results obtained this season with 

 the old process by Messrs. McCall Brothers and Gol. Amedee Bringier 

 are annexed. 



Five hundred and sixty-nine acres of cane, 28,051 pounds, at 7 to 8° 

 Beaume. Total amount of cane rolled, 15,961,334 pounds. Result ob- 



