IMPROVEMENTS IN SUGAR-MAKING. 
355 
Cheap Horse-Power and Thresher.—Fig. 66 . 
“ This horse power is the invention of Mr. John 
Shaw, of Augusta* Maine. It is nothing but a 
wheel and strap, consequently not liable to get 
disordered. The wheel we saw was only twelve 
feet in diameter; the shaft about eight feet long, 
standing in a post set firmly in the ground, which 
received a pivot from the end of the shaft. The 
upper part was supported by two braces, one end 
secured to the timbers of the barn, and the other 
crossing and receiving a gudgeon in the top of the 
shaft. The rim of the wheel was about six inches 
wide for the belt. A lever seven feet in length 
was let into the shaft, to which the horse was 
attached. The whole concern is very simple and 
well represented by the above cut. 
“We have seen one of these powers in operation, 
for propelling a cutting machine, and it seemed to 
be well adapted for that purpose. As to its power 
for threshing, we have some doubts, unless two 
horses were attached. As the machine embraces 
no complicated gearing, but doing the whole with 
a wheel and strap, it certainly appears less liable 
to be put out of order; and what is a farther 
recommendation, we believe they can be erected 
at a less expense than any other machine. 
“As it is much on the same principle as the com¬ 
mon hoisting wheels used in storehouses, we would 
suggest that by cutting a groove or inserting 
crotched irons in the rim of the wheel, a rope may 
be substituted in place of the strap, by which a 
saving may be made, and possibly work as well. 
It is so simple that any carpenter or ingenious 
hand on the farm may construct one.” 
IMPROVEMENTS IN SUGAR-MAKING. 
We find in some of the late numbers of Sim- 
monds’ Colonial Magazine, that a patent has been 
taken out for the application of hydraulic pres¬ 
sure in extracting the juice from the cane. Two 
presses, each capable of bearing a strain of 1,400 
tons, are worked alternately by one set of pumps, 
which pumps may be worked either by manual 
labor, by means of double-ended lever handles, or, 
where manual labor is scarce, by two mules, or by 
a small steam-engine of two-horse power. These 
presses are calculated to turn out about 6,000 gal¬ 
lons of cane juice per day of ten hours, which is 
more than can be effected by a roller-mill, even 
when driven by a steam-engine of twelve or four¬ 
teen horse power. 
The advantages of this system of hydraulic 
pressure are stated to be: 1. The juice in the cane 
(generally 18 per cent, by weight of saccharine 
matter) can be wholly extracted, thereby saving 
about eight parts now left in the megass. 2. The 
juice can be rapidly filtered when cold as dischar¬ 
ged from the mill, or hydraulic-press; if by the 
latter it should be needful. 3. The tempering can 
be effected properly and uniformly. 4. The juice 
can be defecated promptly as it runs from the mill, 
hydraulic-press, or filter, thereby avoiding the de¬ 
teriorating effects produced by remaining in receiv¬ 
ers. 5. The cleansing and evaporating of the 
defecated liquor (rendered purer by previous oper¬ 
ations) can be effected in steam-pans, without dis¬ 
charging from one into the other. 6. The evapo¬ 
rated syrup may be decolored and filtered through 
