Al.V.n W7(JJ.Od~- % c.r t U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. BULLETIN DIVISI6X OP CHEMISTI - RECORD OF EXPERIMENTS COXDUCTKD BY THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE Manufacture of Sugar FROM SORGHUM AND SUGAR CANES FORT SCOn, KANSAS, RIO GHANDK. AND LAWRENCE, LOJDlg 188 WASH] NcTo.V: GO\ i:\f I' KINTING >>i TICK. B8. Norman J. Colman. U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. DIVISION OF CHEMISTRY. BULLETIN No. 17. RECORD <>!• EXPERIMENTS (OXDUCTKI) BY THE a5ecVa\r- ^T()XEi> QF AGRICULTURE Manufacture of Sugar SORGHUM AM) SUGAR ('AXES AT FORT seoiT. KANSAS, RIO GRANDE, NEW JERSEY, AND LAWRENCE, LOUISIANA. 1887-1888 wash I KTGTON: GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 15449— No. 17 Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2013 http://archive.org/details/recaargitOOusde INTRODUCTORY LETTER United States Department of Agriculture, Washington, J), ft, January 26, 1888. Sir: Complying with your instructions I beg to submit herewith for your approval Bulletin Xo. 17 of the Division of Chemistry, containing a record of the experiments made by your direction in the manufacture of sugar from sorghum and sugar canes. The bulletin is divided into three parts, viz : I* art I, experiments with sorghum at Fort Scott — Containing the re- port of M. Swensou; drawings and description of apparatus; a digest of the report of E. B. Cowgill to the State board of agriculture at Topeka, Elans.; and a statement of the action taken by the Depart- ment.in respect of certain letters patent granted to M. Swenson for the use of lime carbonates in the cells of the battery. PART II, experiments at Itio Grande —-Containing the report of II. A. Hughes, drawings and description of apparatus use'd, and analytical notes. Part IH, experiments in Louisiana. — Containing the report of II. W. Wiley of the results of the experiments conducted at Lawrence, La. Jn obedience to your further orders, I took charge of the chemical woi k of the three stations. 1 taring the summer ^t' 1887 the necessary apparatus and chemicals were purchased and sent to the several stations. Of my assistants, (\ A. Crampton and X. ,1. Pake were directed to take charge of the analytical work at Fort Scott, and were furnished with written instructions for their guidance in taking samples and the gen- eral method of analyses to be followed. 1". V. Broadbent and H. Edsoo were sent to Bio Grande. They had the same instructions as were given my assistants at Fori Scott. In addition to this 1 personally directed the beginning of their work. On October 1 1, L887, Mr. Broadbent resigned his position in the Department for the purpose of pursuing bis studies abroad. Mr. ESdson from that date had SOle charge of the analytical work until the end o\' the season. On April 2, L887, G. L. Spencer was sent to Fori Boot! to seenre the removal of certain machinery to Lawrence ami joined Mr. Larthclemy in the work of preparation at that Station. At the close of the work at Fori Scott, Dr. Crampton and Mr. Fake also came to Lawrence to assist in the chemical work at tli.it pla. I :: Ill the following pages only such chemical data are given as are neces- sary to illustrate the experiments made. Much of the chemical work is yet undone, and it would delay too long the publishing of this bulletin to wait for its completion. All the details of the chemical work for all three stations will therefore be collected and published in a separate bulletin, viz, No. 18. The success of the work at all three stations has been most gratifying, and the diffusion process for the manufacture of sugar has been advanced beyond the experimental stage by the labors of this Department, beginning in 1SS3, and it is now offered to the sugar- growers of the country with the confident assurance that it is the best, most simple, and most economical method of extracting sugar both from sorghum and sugar canes. Kespectfullv, H. W. Wiley, Chemist Hon. Norman J. Colman, Commissioner, Part I. EXPERIMENTS WITH SORGHUM AT FORT SCOTT. IiETTEJ? OF TRANSMITTAL. Fort Scott, Kans., November 0, 1887. Sir: I herewith submit my report of the experiments in the manu- facture of sugar from .sorghum cane, conducted at Fort Scott, Kans., during the present year. I beg to acknowledge my appreciation of the hearty support that you have accorded me while in charge of this work. Very respectfully, Magnus Swenson. Hon. Norman J. Colman, Commissioner of Agriculture, Washington^ J>. C. UK PORT OF M. SWENSON. Previous to my appointment to take charge of the experiments in the manufacture of sugar from sorghum cane at Fort Scott, Kans.. all at- tempts to make sugar from this source in paying quantities had failed. This was due to many difficulties, of both a mechanical and a chemical nature, in the manipulation of the cane and juice. The most important problems to be Solved were the proper cutting and cleaning of the cane, the prevention of inversion of cane sugar in the diffusion battery, and to find a cheap and effective method for treating the diffusion juioe. PRELIMINARY EXPERIMEfl , A- so mi as the earliest of the amber cane approached ripeness a large number of preliminary experiments were made in defecation and filtra- tion of juices. The experiments In filtration were made with a small filter pic-- with a html piim; cloth used was the same as that used in the large presses, ami every precaution was taken to make the results pi ^t as \ aluable as if made on a larger scale. These experiments were began on July 2 filtering materials used were finely pow« dered lignite, bituminous coal, shale, several kinds of soils, and prepared carbonate ofliuie. The following' conclusions were derived from these experiments : (1) None of the above materials would filter juice satisfactorily that had an acid reaction. (2) Neutral juice filtered very slowly and a hard-press cake would not form iu the press. (3) With a decidedly alkaline juice the filtration took place much more readily, but was not entirely satisfactory except with carbonate of lime. (4) Lignite did not have any apparent decolorizing effect ou the juice except when the juice had become highly colored by adding an excess of lime, when a slight decolorization took place. A large number of ex- periments were made with varying quantities of lignite, but in no case did it show any superiority over fine sandy loam, either as a decolorizer or filtering medium. Experiments for testing the cutting, cleaning, and elevating machinery were also conducted as early as the condition of the cane would per- mit. The method of unloading the cane and getting it onto the carrier was similar to that employed last year. The seed heads, however, were cut off in the field. The cutters were made by the Belle City Manufactur- ing Company, of Racine, Wis. They did the work well, but the ma- chines were too light to stand the very severe work they were called upon to do. The cane was cut into pieces about air inch long and then elevated by a drag to the top of a series of four fans standing straight over each other, each fan being furnished with a separate set of shakers. The cleaning apparatus, after considerable adjustment, did fairly good work- The leaves and sheaths were removed by a suction fan. The cleaned pieces of cane were cut by a rapidly revolving cutter, consisting of a cylinder carrying thirty knives. The cylinder was made up of three separate sections, each with ten knives. Although no difficulty was cn- countered in cutting, the work of the cutter was very unsatisfactory. A Large portion of the Chips consisted of long pieces with the bark on one side. Diffusion in this case could take place but in one direction, and in the largest chips of this kind the extraction of the sugar was very im- perfect. The drag for conveying the Chips to the cells was rebuilt and placed higher and on one side of the battery so as not to interfere wilh the packing of the chips in the cells. The exhausted chips were dumped directly iotO a car running on rails under the battery. This car was run up an incline onto a trestle work about I'll feet from t he ground, by the aid of an endless cable. Two friction clutches, running in op- posite directions, served to run the car forward or backward, and the car was so arranged that the charge of exhausted chips could be dropped at any point by simply reversing the motion of the '-able. EXPERIMENTS WITH CRUSHER. It was the opinion of a number of men interested in this industry that a very much larger yield and better quality of juice could be ob- tained by the crushers if the cane, previously to being pressed, were cleaned and macerated, and it was deemed best to give the matter a thorough trial. For this purpose a 3-foot cane mill was purchased from J. A. Field & Co., of Saint Louis. It consisted of a three-roller mill and a supplemental two-roller mill. The principal trouble encountered was in feeding the mill. Even with an arrangement ior forcing the chips between the rolls not over three tons per hour could be forced through, and the yield of juice was but little if any greater than when whole cane was fed to the mill. The average yield of syrup was about 10 gallons per ton of cane worked. The same kind of cane yielded by diffusion 25 gallons of syrup per ton of cane. The cane used in this trial was very poor, being mostly lodged. These experiments show conclusively the great supe- riority of the diffusion process for syrup making, a very good quality of sirup being produced from very poor cane. It was superior in both color and liavor to the sirnp from the mill juice. The juices from the mill and battery were treated precisely alike and they were skimmed and evaporated in an open steam evaporator. This is a matter of great importance to all engaged in the sugar business, as both at the beginning and close of the season there will be considerable cane that is not fit for sugar-making, and the fact that 25 gallons of iirst-class sirup can be made from such cane by diffusion makes it possible to work even such material at a good profit. The first run for sugar was begun on August 26. The juice was made alkaline with lime, and about 2 percent, of carbonate of lime was added. It was then filtered. To other portions of juice, instead of carbonate of lime, 3 per cent, of ground shale, bituminous coal, and sandy loam were added respectively. The nitrations were very imperfect except with the carbonate of lime and in every way corresponded with the pre- liminary experiments. Lignite was not used on a large scale because 1 had at the time no means of grinding it; bat judging from a large number ofl experiments made in the beginning of the season, il is safe to conclude that it would not have tillered any better than the other materials used. Satisfactory durations were only produced when the juice had been made strongly alkaline, and no materia] was found which would filter the juice \\ hen lefl Blightly acid. On August 30 the flret strike was made, and the yield was a little more than LOO pounds of washed sugar per ton of clean cane. i.wr.i; DANE si .; LB, TO prevent the inversion of the BUgar in batlerv, about 10 pounds of dry precipitated carbonate of lime was mixed with enough water to pro- 8 duce a thiu paste. This was added to the fresh chips while the cell was being filled, and entirely prevented any loss of sugar by inversion. The carbonate was made by forcing carbonic acid gas by the aid of a pump into thin milk of lime. The injection pipe was perforated and lay along the bottom of a 10 by 10 feet tank containing the milk of lime. The gas was produced by burning coke in a small furnace. When the lime showed but a slight alkaline reaction it was run oft" into a large hole in the ground where the water soon drained away, leaving the car- bonate nearly dry. EXPERIMENTS WITH DEFECATION. On September 1 filtration was dispensed with and experiments tried with simple defecation. The defecators were similar to those in ordi- nary use, being simply round tanks with conical bottoms and furnished with coils for heating the juice. This method of defecation, however, was not satisfactory, and defecation was tried in a shallow pan HI feet long and 2G inches wide, with a partition running lengthwise in the center, the inlet and outlet for the juice being on the same end of the pan on opposite sides of the partition. This pan was gotten np very hurriedly and was supplied with iron pipes for heating the juice. The juice, after being previously limed and somewhat heated, was pumped into one side of the long heating pan and run out at the opposite side continuously. Being compelled by the center partition to flow down one side and back on the other, the juice made a circuit of 32 feet. The steam was so regulated that during the first 1«5 feet it was gradually brought to the boiling point, while in the opposite side it boiled rigorously. In this way a strong current was produced which carried all the impurities in the form of scum to the quiet portion of the juice, where it was removed and returned to the battery, thus avoiding all waste and annoyance from this source. BV LPOEATION. The juice was evaporated to from -jo to 30* Bauml, in a double ef- fect evaporator built by the Pusey & Jones Company, of Wilmington, Del. This apparatus gave perfect satisfaction, All the evaporation Was done o\ exhaust steam of 1 pounds pressure, a small amount of live steam being nsed only when part of the machinery was stopped. EXPERIMENTS IN BOILING TO GRAIN. Everj Btrike was boiled to grain iii the pan. Several experiments were made to ascertain the result in boiling u in and in," the juice being enriched by the addition of sugar made from previous strikes. It is \c]\ doubtful, however, whether this is to he recommended, excepting when the juice is so poor that a good grain Can not he obtained in any other way. Owing to the fact that we were unable to secure a sufficient supply of cane the work progressed very irregularly. Only twice during the entire season was the battery kept in operation continuously for twenty hours, and during the sugar-making season the diffusion battery was emptied sixty-two times. This entailed no inconsiderable loss, amount- ing to from 1 to 2 tons of clean cane each time a stoppage occurred. CASE WORKED FOR SUGAR. The total amount of cane worked for sugar was 2,G10 tons. In this is iucluded all that was used for experiments in filtration and defecation during the first part of the season. I have no record of the exact amount lost iu this way. The total amount of first sugar made was 235,476 pounds. This sugar was all washed, and polarized on an average 96 per cent. The total amount of molasses produced was 51,000 gallons. TRIAL RUNS. Iu order to ascertain as nearly as possible the average yield of sugar per ton of cane two trial runs were made. FIRST TRIAL. On September 15 a strike was made from 133 tons of clean cane. In order to obtain a better grain 2,000 pounds of sugar was added to the juice after it had been defecated; 2,200 pounds of juice were drawn from each cell. The following is a record of this experiment : Sucrose in mm, juice from chips 10.00 Glucose in mill, juice from chips 3.41 Solids not sugar, juice from chips 3.20 Ratio of sucrose i<> glucose :.. 2.94 Coefficient of purity 60.3 Sucrose in diffusion juice :. i»i Glucose in diffusion juice 2.60 Solids not sugar, diffusion juice 2.50 Ratio of sucrose i<> glucose ' 3.04 Coefflcienl of purity 60, l Sucrose in defi cated juice -. :: i Glucose in defecated juice 2.40 Solids not BUgar, (If treated jilice -J. |Q Ratio of sucrose to glucose :;. i: cienl of purity Total w eighl of firsl sugar pounds 17,608 added to juice do Total yield 1 at : t\i^ 15,008 Total yield of secon< do Total yield of molasses 10 Yield per ton : First sugar pounds.. 113.00 Second sugar do 17. 5 Molasses gallons .. 15, ."> First sugar polarized <):>. 0 Second sugar polarized 88.7 Temperature in battery was "between 75° and 80 : C. SECOND TRIAL. Eighty-six tons of clean cane were worked; 54 tons on October 1, and 32 tons on October 2. All was boiled in one strike. No analyses were made on October 2, and unfortunately the complete data can not there- fore be given. The juice was not enriched as in the previous trial. The following are the results : Yield of first sugar pounds. . 9, 292 Yield of second sugar do 1, 988 Yield of molasses gallons.. 1, 462 Yield per ton : First sugar pounds. . 108 Second sugar do 23 Molasses gallons.. 17 First sugar polarized 97 Second sugar polarized 88 AVERAGE YIELD OF SUGAR. .Making a fair allowance for cane and juice lost in experiments during the first part of the season, the average yield of first sugars will be fully 100 pounds per ton, polarizing 97. A strike of average molasses boile I to string proof yielded 12J per cent, of the weight of the masse cuite in sugar, containing t sugar in the juice prevented only two-fifths of their weight of cane sugar from crystalliz- ing. This 18 also borne out by the data furnished by the anal\ .sis of the juices during the entire season. 11 Average analyses from talks prepared J)\j Dr. Crampion. For week ending. Mill juices Diffusion juices. Total Mij;;tr Brix. Sucrose. Glucose. Erix. Sucrose. Glucose. (exhaust chips). in. 9 9 99 ] 7. :: 9. 6:s 16.4 9.44 16.4 I 9.96 14.8 | 9.3 4 3. 40 :;' 2 ~i 2.98 12.8 12, 2 lo.fl 11.0 10. 1 7.74 6.88 6 34 6.60 6.38 2.28 2.21 2.31 1.90 .09 .96 .63 . 98 October 16 1. 10 Average for season 16.3 9.67 3.31 11.4 6.79 M . 93 Average ratio of sucrose to glucose in mill juices 2. 92 Average coefficient of purity of mill juices . — A verage ratio of sucrose to glucose in diffusion juices •>. 3.07 Average coefficient of purity of diffusion juices 50.5 The above table discloses two very important facts ■ (1) The very uniform condition of the cane throughout the entire sea- son. (2) By the use of a small quantity of carbonate of lime in the cells the inversion of cane sugar is entirely prevented. The amount of sugar left in the chips is larger than it ought to be. This is due, as previously stated, to the bad shape of some of the chips. For this reason tin* juice was also more dilute, as larger charges had to be drawn in order to get a more complete extraction. Up to Septem- ber 22 the amount drawn was 2,200 pounds. From this to October 4 2,640 pounds, and from October 4 to the end of the season 2,420 pounds were drawn. The temperature of the battery was maintained near S0°C. EFFECT OF HEAT. In order to determine the amount of inversion taking place when the juice was evaporated to sirup, in an open pan, the following experiments were made. Juice was boiled down in the open pan used for defecating, an t IX. 13.0 21.7 27.7 11 86 lost. Ratio of sui to glm 37.20 41. in [Trial on Po iratoi i 12 The juice in both cases was made as nearly neutral with lime as pos- sible. It seems from the above that the invertive action of the heat has been greatly overestimated, and that when tbe juice is not acid no ap- preciable inversion takes place even when the juice is reduced to a moderately heavy sirup in an open pan. From Mr. Parkinson's report it will be seen that the loss in leaves and sheaths amounted to about 11 per cent, of the weight of the topped cane. This loss can no doubt be somewhat reduced when the cleaning machines become better adapted to the work. According to a number of trials with freshly cut cane the weight of leaves and sheaths amounted to 10 per cent, and the seed tops to 15 percent, of the weight of the whole plant. Late in the season when the leaves become dry this proportion is of course considerably less. COST OP A FACTORY. A very important fact to determine is, the capacity and cost of a factory that will work the cane most economically. There can be no doubt but the advantages are greatly on the side of the large factory. The office expenses and cost of management will be but little, if any, greater. All the machinery required in a large factory is equally neces- sary in a small one and the proportionate price of this machinery is in favor of the larger factory. In other words, a factory working 200 tons of cane per day will cost much less than double the cost of a factory working 100 tons. Again, the cost of operating a large factory is pro- portionately much less. It takes no more men to operate a diffusion battery with a capacity of 200 tons of cane than one half as large, and this is true of the larger part of the machinery in the factory. A point may of course be reached where the size of the machinery becomes too large for economical working, and when the amount of cane needed for winking will be greater than can be grown within easy reach of the factory. Judging from our present knowledge, a factory capable of working from 200 to 260 tons of cleaned cane per day seems the most desirable. This would require a diffusion battery of 12 cells, each cell having a capacity of L12 cubic feet. The evaporating apparatus should have a capacity of 260 tons of water per day and a strike pan with a propor- tionate capacity. The cost of such machinery will, of course, depend largely on its kind and quality, and can be readily obtained from any reliable manufacturer. The cost of a factory is almost always under- estimated, owing to many items which are not taken intoaccount. The capital for building a factory of the above capacity should Dot be less than $100,000 to $126,000, any tiling below being certainly unsafe. Nothing but 11k- best machinery should be used and ever; precaution should be taken to prevent breakage of machinery and to be able to 13 make repairs quickly by having duplicate parts of such machinery as are liable to break. There is no manufacture which depends more for its success on the proper working of the machinery than the sugar industry. COST OF WORKING. The success of this industry does not depend altogether on how much sugar can be produced per ton of cane, but the cost of this production must also be considered. The success of the work during the past season has been largely due to the simplicity and cheapness of the processes employed. For the actual cost of production and other data of the utmost interest to those who contemplate engaging in this industry, lean not do better than refer them to the report of W. L. Parkinson to the board of directors of the Parkinson Sugar Company, which I have the permission to em- body in this report. l There is no doubt but that 82 per ton for working cane are sufficient to cover all legitimate expenses connected with the manufacture. UTILIZATION OF THE EXHAUST CHIPS. It will soon become a matter of necessity to dispose in some way of the exhausted chips from the battery. The great amount of this material accumulating about the factory makes it imperative that they be utilized in some way. Three methods of disposition have been suggested : (1) To return them to the land as a fertilizer; (2) to use them for fuel; (3) to manufacture into paper pulp. One of the last two methods will no doubt be adopted. Some experiments in using for fuel were made during the season. A large portion of the water was pressed out by passing the chips through a 3- foot cane-crusher. The chips dropped from the last roll into a hopper, from which they were taken up by a suction-tan and blown over to the boiler-house. This method of handling the chips has many features to recommend it. It is very simple, and, besides, the chips are dried some- what by being subjected to the strong current of air. No doubt the making of paper pulp from the chips will become the most profitable disposition to make of them. The cane after being reduced to tine chips and thoroughly washed in the dill'nsion battery is certainly in an ex- cellent condition for this work. No attempts h.;\ 6 beeu made, as fir as I know, to make paper pulp on a Large scale from this source, but vei \ line samples of pure white pulp have been made in a small way. Tins matter i^ certainly deserving of thorough investigation. NEEDS OP i m: INDUSTRY. One of the greatest difficulties which will be encountered by those engaged in developing this industry will be the scarcity of men capable ot operating factories. This will he the most Serious hinderance to rapid : !. ]•. Jt.) 14 development, as nothing but time can produce men of the requisite ex- perience. The establishment of a school for training young men in this work would be of inestimable value. Here they should receive thorough technical training, which should be supplemented with a drill in the factories while they are in operation. This would in a short time de- velop a number of men capable not only of taking charge of a factory, but also qualified to conduct independent research, which, in so fruit- ful a field, could not but result in great good to the industry. The improvement of the sorghum cane is also one of the subjects which should receive immediate attenlion. Although very little has been attempted in this line, enough has been done to show that the cane sugar is greatly increased by good culture, and that it is susceptible of very great improvement by the various methods known to scientific agriculture there can be no doubt. The idea that sorghum cane will grow anywhere aud do well with any kind of treatment is one of the main causes of poor cane. Instead of re- ceiving thorough culture, it generally gets only such attention as can be spared from the other crops. If the price paid for cane could be reg- ulated by the actual amount of sugar it contained, the farmer would soon find it to his advantage to devote more time to his caue field. The establishmen t of a sugar refinery within easy reach of the sorghum- sugar factories will be one of the imperative needs .in the near future. The demand for any kind of sugar but white granulated is compara- tively limited. The sugar produced at Fort Scott averaged within 2J per cent, of being as pure as the best granulated, while the selling price has been about 1J cents per pound less, or a difference of about 25 per cent. The most feasible manner of conducting the refinery, at least in the near future, will be to supply one or more factories with the addi- tional appliances needed, and when the season's work is over the sugar from a number of factories could be refined there during the balance of the year. Before dosing this report I wish to extend my thanks to Mr. W. L« Parkinson, manager of the Parkinson Sugar Company, for his hearty co-operation. The successful handling, cutting, and cleaning the cane were due to the results of his thought and labor. 1 also desire to express my appreciation of the faithful and valuable Services rendered by my assistants, Messrs. J. U. Hart and J. N. Wil- cox ; and my thanks are due Dr. 0. A. Crampton and Mr. N. .1. Pake, chemists of the I '. S. I department of Agriculture, for aid and courtesies extended. CONCLUSIONS. In reviewing the work the most important point suggested is the Complete SUCCeSS Of the experiments in demonstrating the commercial practicality of manufacturing sugar from sorghum cane. (4J) That Bugar was produced uniformly throughout the entire season. 15 (3) That this was not due to any extraordinary content of sugar in the cane, but, on the contrary, the cane was much injured by severe drought and chinch-bugs. (4) That the value of the sugar and molasses obtained this year per ton of sorghum cane will compare favorably with that of the highest yields obtained in Louisiana from sugar-cane, and, taking into consid- eration the much greater cost of the sugar-cane, and that it has no equivalent to the 2 bushels of seed yielded per ton of sorghum cane, also our much cheaper fuel, I say without hesitancy that sugar can be produced fully as cheaply in Kansas as in Louisiana. M. Swenson. SUMMARY OF CHEMICAL WORK DOXE AT FORT SCOTT, 1837. [Abstract of report of C. A. Crampton.] Analyses were begun on the 3d of September, but a full chemical control of the work was not established until the 8th. Samples of the fresh chips, diffusion juices, and exhausted chips were taken in the usual way, great care being taken to have them represent as accurately as possible the mean properties of the several substances mentioned. Table 1. — Analyses of juices of fresh chips. Number of analyses .">.') Suck- Per cent Mean «.». 54 Maximum 11.51 Minimum 6.20 Glucose : Mean :',. 10 Maximum 6.49 Minimum 1.39 Total solids (spindle) : Mean it;. 1 1 Maximum 17. 18 Minimum 13.09 Table 2. — Diffusion jui Number ot analyses 51 BuCrOW : IVr. . at Mean Maximum 3.79 M iniinum QldCO Man Maximum Mini in it in 1. ?."> Total solids l spindl Mean ll.Oti Maximum 13.10 Minimum E 16 Table '.). — Exh a fisted ch ij)8. Number of analyses 29 Both sugars: Percent Mean 1.03 Maximum 1. 83 Minimum 49 Table A.— Clarified juit Number of analyses 25 Sucrose: Percent Mean G.91 Maximum B.2S Minimum 5.11 Glucose : Mean 2. 19 Maximum 2.85 Minimum 1.69 Total solids (spindle) : Mean 11.31 Maximum 13. 35 Minimum 8. 94 Table 5.— Sirup* . Number of analyses 14 Sucrose: Percent. Mean 29.90 Maximum 41.90 Minimum 10. 10 Glue Menu 10.06 Maximum 16.26 Minimum 7.52 Total solids (spindle): Mean 46.02 Maximum 60.40 Minimum :>(> 20 Table . 64 Maximum 98. 10 Minimum 92. 40 T lble 7. - St con I - vgars. Number of analyses 3 Sucrose: Per cent Mean B5. 90 Maximum 88.70 Mini m ii m 82.30 The analyses of the molasses, masse cuites, and some other prod acts are nol yel com- plete, but will be given in full in Bulletin No. 18, The patio of sucrose bo glucose in the fresh chips and diffusion juices for the season - follows : Mill juice I Diffusion juice 1 : 2.95 IV This would seeru to show one of two things, either that there was absolutely no in- version in the Lattery or that the glucose in the cane was not so readily diffused as the sucrose. The latter hypothesis seems to be borne out by the analyses of the ex- hausted chips as shown in the following table of analyses: Shcj-osc and glucose in juice from exhausted chips and corresponding diffusion juices. Date. Exhausted chips. Diffusion juices. Xn. lucose. *.. Sucrose. Glucose. Oct 8 Oct 11 Oct. 12 Oct 13 Per c 287 813 nt. 78 87 63 95 m rer cent. .57 .51 .29 .48 .24 217 259 266 --- Per cent. Per cent. 5.90 6. 58 2. 0!) 6.17 5.97 1.89 6. 02 1. 80 Oct. 14 Oct 15 Oct. 18 .27 .43 5.66 1.75 312 5.66 2.02 Am rag 7^ .4(1 5. 99 2. 09 15449— No. 17- THE SORGHUM-SUGAR INDUSTRY IN KANSAS.' REPORT OF E. B. COWGILL. Office of the State Board of Agriculture, Tojieka, Kans., December 17, 1887. While all attempts to manufacture sugar from sorghum in Kansas had, prior to the present season, resulted in disappointment and finan- cial disaster, confidence was not destroyed. The failures of the past, and the obstacles to success, which many of large experience had de- clared to be insurmountable, seemed only to nerve those whose confi- dence in the final success of the industry remained unshaken, to renewed and more determined effort. Congress had been induced to provide means to aid in the further prosecution of experimental work, but cap- ital was required to enable Kansas to avail herself of the assist; noe offered. Those having the greatest financial interest in the industry were generally discouraged, and individuals having nothing at risk could hardly be expected to invest in so unpromising an enterprise. Under these circumstances the legislature was appealed to, and on .March 5, 1S87, "an act to encourage the manufacture of sugar" was secured, which provides: First, that a bounty of two cents per pound shall be paid upon all sugar manufactured in this State from beets, sorghum, or other sugar-yielding canes or plants grown in Kansas. Second, that no bounty shall be paid upon sugar containing less than 90 per cent, of crystallized sugar, the quantity and quality to be deter- mined by the secretary of the State board of agriculture, or other per- son appointed by him, the cost of such inspection to be borne by the claimant. Third, the sum of money so to be paid shall not exceed in any one \ ear (15,000. The secretary of the board, recognizing his inability to perform the duties imposed by tic act above referred to, did. on the loth day of August, 1887, by virtue of the authority in him vested, appoint and com. ni.ssion Prof. E. B. Cowgill inspector, under the provisions of said act. and authorized and empowered him to do and perform, all and sin- gular, the duties as such inspector; aNo to make such observation and port lias been corrected by the author, several errore having been over- looked in i he advance sheel j, IS 19 investigation of the means and methods employed in the manufacture of sugar as the public interest might seem to require ; and to report to this office, as required by law, and indicated iu the instructions trans- mitted with said commission, as follows : State Board of Agriculture, Topeka, Kans.} August 15, 1887. Dear Sir : In inspecting sugar, on which bounty is claimed under tbe act of the legislature approved March 5, 1887, and in your observations of processes, and iu investigating the subject of sugar making in Kansas under the commission herewith presented, you will observe tbe following instructions : I. In accordance with section 2 of said act, you will proceed to inspect sugar made in Kansas when called upon by the manufacturers, and, First, determine the percentage of crystallized sugar, uucrystallized sugar, aud of substances not sugar, contained in each package presented for inspection. Second, keep a full aud correct record of the quantities aud qualities of sugar on •which bounty is claimed. II. In determining the quality of sugars you will make analyses by the copper reduction, or such other method or methods as you may deem bet III. You will weigh and brand all sugars iuspected, and keep possession of the same until delivered or cousigned to purchaser, aud you will keep a correct record of each delivery and consignment: Provided, That you may permit delivery and ship- ments to be made, during your absence from the works, by some person to be desig- nated by you , who shall keep a full and correct record of such delivery and consign- ment, and present to you a sworn statement of the same, together with receipts of purchaseror transportation companies. IV. You shall also take such sworn testimony of manufacturers, employes, station agents, or consignees, and such other evidence as shall fully determine the quantity of the sugar to be reported for payment of bounty. V. When the entire product of the season at any factory has been inspected, aud your record completed as above directed, you will transmit to this office a sworn state- ment, showing the quality and quantity of sugars made by said factory, and will turn over to the manufacturers all unsold products. VI. You will observe processes ami experiments, and make iuvestigal ions as oppor- tunities permit, and report fully to this office, to the end that the people of the State may have the advantage of all information gained ami processes developed under the encouragement of the bounty provided in the act above referred to. Yours truly, Wm. Sims, ••< /f a quantity <»t' m< dads represented by from 10.9 t<> 12.28 per cent, of the weight of the eane diffused. This was secured with a cane in which the total Bngars \ Judge Parkinson, and all others in- terested in thf sorghum sugar industry, that this w as I he only hope for Buccess. Fifty thousand dollars for this purpose was again added to the agricultural appropriation bill, on the amendment of Senator Plumb. This was expended at Ottawa, Kans., and in Louisiana. The report of tin- work at Ottawa closes ftS follOWSJ (1) h\ tii-' prooeM of diffusion 08 i »«• i cent, of the sugar in the oanc was extracted, ami the yield was folly doable that obtained in the ordinary way. (•J) The difflonltiee to be oyeroome in the application of difftu whollj mo- ohanioal. With the apparatus on hand the following changes are necessary in < to be able to work 120 tons per daj I diffusion ceils should be made tn 24 large as they now are; that is, of 130 cubic feet capacity, (b) The opening through which the chips are discharged should bo made as marly as possible of the same area as a horizontal cross-sectiou of the cell, (c) The forced feed of the cutters requires a few miuor changes in order to prevent choking, (d) The apparatus for delivering the chips to the cells should be remodeled so as to dispense with the labor of one man. (3) The process of carbonatation for the purification of the juice is the only method which will give a limpid juice with a minimum of waste and a maximum of purity. (4) By a proper combination of diffusion and carbonatation the experiments have demonstrated that fully 95 per cent, of the sugar in the cane can be placed on the market either as dry sugar or molasses. (5) It is highly important that the Department complete the experiments so suc- cessfully inaugurated by making the changes in the machinery mentioned above and by the erection of a complete carbonatation outfit. Respectfully, H. W. Wiley, Chemist. But while so much had been accomplished by the joint efforts of the United States Department of Agriculture and the Ottawa company. the financial results were so disastrous to the company as to leave them utterly unable to further co-operate with the Government in the prose- cution of the work. THE FORT SCOTT COMPANY ORGANIZED. At this juncture Judge Parkinson saw that he must either submit to defeat or organize a new company to co operate with the Department of Agriculture, should Congress be wise enough to make another ap- propriation. In this straight he went to Fort Scott and organized the Parkinson Sugar Company, which is now composed as follows: J. 1). Hill, president; Eli Kearnes, vice-president; M. Swenson, secretary and chemist; W. Chenault, treasurer; W. L. Parkinson, manager; C. V. Drake, .V. W. Walburn, W. W. Pusey, J. W. Converse, ami David Richards. Taking up the work where all others had failed, this company has taken a full share of the responsibilities and losses, until it has at last seen the Northern sugar industry made a financial success. THE DOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES HAKES AN APPROPRIATION. The report of L885 showed such favorable results that in L886 the House made an appropriation of (94,000, to be used in Louisiana, New Jersey, and Kansas. A new battery and complete carbonatation appa- ratus were erected at Fort Scott. About $60,000 of the appropriation was expended here in experiments in diffusion and carbonatation. In his report Dr. Wiley arrived at the following conclusions : Iii a general review of the work, the most important point suggested is the abso- lute failure of the experiments to demonstrate the commercial practicability of manu- facturing sorglium sugar. The causes of this failure bave been pointed out In the preceding pages, and it will onlj be necessary new t<> reoapil alate them. They were •' (1) Defective machinery for outting the canes and for elevating and oleaning the chips and for removing the exhausted chips. 25 (2) The deterioration of the caue due to much of it becoming over-ripe, but chiefly id the fact that much time would generally elapse after the canes were cut before they reached the diffusion battery. The heavy frost which came the first of October also injured the cane somewhat, but not until ten days or two weeks after it oc- curred. (3) The deteriorated cane caused a considerable inversion of the sucrose in the bat- tery, an inversion which was increased by the delay in furnishing chips, thu> ing the chips in the battery to remain exposed under pressure for a much longer time than was necessary. The mean time required for diffusing one cell was twenty-one minutes, three times as long as it should have been. (4) The process of carbonatation, as employed, secured a maximum yield of sugar, but failed to make a molasses which was marketable. This trouble arose from the small quantity of lime remaining in the filtered juices, causing a blackening of the sirup on concentration, and the failure of the cleaning apparatus to properly pre- pare the chips for diffusion. THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE DISCOURAGED. After the expenditure of so much money, and the publication of so discouraging a report as that of 188G, the Commissioner of Agriculture declined to ask for further appropriations.* Bat Senator Plumb again came to the rescue, and, by a faithful presentation of the possibilities of the case, induced Congress to make an appropriation of $50,000, of which s'iMjOOO was apportioned to Louisiana. $6,000 to JJio Grande, N*. J., and $20,000 to Fort Scott, Kans.f SUCCESS AT LAST. This year the Port Bcotl management made careful selection of essen- tial parts of die processes already used, omitted non-essential and cum- brous processes, availed themselves Of all the experience of the past in this country, and secured a fresh infusion of experience from the beet- sugar factories of Germany, and attained the success which anally places sorghnm sugar-making among the profitable industries of the country. STATE ENOOURAGEMEN I. The Stale of Kansas had, by all reports, been indicated as the center Of the BOrghum-SUgar industry, when it should be developed. Kansas Statesmen in the legislature, as early as L885, conceded that (he State should assist in the development of the new industry. In thatyear lion. B. P. Bond, member of the house from Bice County, prepared ami Introduced a bill providing for a bounty of \.\ cents per pound, to be paid out of the State treasury, on all sugar manufactured in the State e non-action <>t the Commissioner la misunderstood bj Mr. Cowgill. When t h«- Bouse Committee on Agriculture made the appropriation of the preceding year it was I that no subsequent grant should i»«' demanded. It \\;is in harmony with this agreement and not for the reasons stated that the Commissioner did ool ask foi .k further appropriation. I The distribution of the money to the variona atations h 'as left t<» t he dlaoretion of the Commissioner, ami was not mentioned in the biU. 26 for five years. The bill awakened a great deal of enthusiasm, and, at the same time, a factious opposition, and was lost. At the session of 1887 Senator Bawden, of Bourbon County, introduced a bill providing for a bounty of 2 cents per pound, to be paid upon all sugar manufact- ured in the State for five years, the maximum amount to be paid in any year being limited to 815,000. This bill became a law. It will thus be seen that the present condition of the sorghum-sugar industry is due to private enterprise, aided by Government and State appropriations, and directed by scientific and practical skill. COMMISSIONERS OF AGRICULTURE LE DUC, LORING, AND COLMAN. It should be mentioned in this connection that United States Com- missioner of Agriculture Le Due extended a strong and friendly hand to the sorghum sugar industry during his term of office. His succes- sor. Commissioner Loring, had the work continued by Professor Wiley, but was himself skeptical as to results. The present Commissioner, Hon. Xorman J. Colman, had been an advocate of sorghum for many years before his accession to office, and had probably written and pub- lished more on the subject than any other man in the United States. Every friend of the struggling industry was gratified at his appoint- ment. He has extended all the aid at his command, and may justly feel proud of the attainment of the present success under his adminis- tration of the Department of Agriculture. THE PRESENT STATE OF THE INDUSTRY. The experiments in making sugar from sorghum, which, as above shown, have been in progress for several years at the expense of private capital and the United States Department of Agriculture, have this year reached so favorable results as to place the manufacture of sor- ghum sugar on the basis of a profitable business, as will be seen by the report to his company of Hon. W. L. Parkinson, manager of the Fort Scott works. The success has been due to, first, the almost complete extraction of the sugars from the cane by the diffusion process; second, the prompt and proper treatment of the juice in defecating and evaporating; third, the efficient manner in which the sugar wTas boiled to grain in the strike- pan. That these results may be duplicated and improved upon will be readily understood from the showing made in Mr. Parkinson's report, and the descriptions of methods and processes used, and the discussion of the same as they appear in the subsequent pages of this paper. RBPOBX OF w. I,. PABKINSON, in the Board of Dlreoton Parkinson Sugar Company: hi mi s: I i. ipeetfally submit for yonr consideration the following report of the operations of the irorki of your company foi the season just closing ! It Li provided in onreontraot with the United States Department of Agriculture th.it certain experiments in sugar-making shall be made bj the Department with cer- tain machinery of Its own and at its own expense, using the company's plant and 27 machinery. Many of those experiments have been so closely allied to and dovetailed into the regular work of the factory that it is very difficult, if not wholly impossible, to clearly separate the cost of the experimental work from that of the general opera- tion of the factory during the season. At the same time it is highly important that you know as precisely as possible the cost of working and the profit or loss on each ton of cane handled. As you are aware, the crop of cane contracted for last spring was very much less than the capacity of our works to consume. It was considered prudent to limit our dan- ger from loss, by reason of the experimental nature of the work, and at the same time to have sufficient cane to determine thoroughly the value of the work on a practical manufacturing basis. This has been done, though it is now apparent that had the crop been twice as large, the expenses for working it would have been relatively much less. Indeed, a crop double the size of the one just finished could have been worked in about the same time, and at a comparatively trifling additional expense The plans, methods, and processes which have made the work of the season successful be- yond our most sanguine expectations, were adopted early in the season, so that the risks incident to experiments taken into account when contracting for a crop were reduced to the minimum. The fact that at least a portion of these highly successful processes were not tried and adopted last season was no fault of your company, nor of any one connected with this season's work. To arrive at the cost per ton of cane worked, let us take the working of a single average day, when in full operation, and apart from the cost of experiments referred to. The capacity of our factory, aside from deficient centrifugals, is limited to the ca- pacity of the diffusion battery. Working twenty-two hours per day, this battery can comfortably handle 135 tons of chips, or cleaned cane. This represents a capacity of field cane, or cane with seed tops and blades, of about 170 tons. To handle this, aside from curing and handling seed, cost us per day of twenty-two hours, when running regularly, as follows: 1 weighmaster, at $2 $2. 00 1 team, pulling cane onto storage racks, at $'2.50 2.50 5 men, unloading and getting cane to cutters, 22 hours, at 12£ cents 13.75 1 man, cutting machine, at 15 cents 3.30 1 man, cleaning machine, at 12£ cents 2.75 1 man, grinder, etc., at 15 cents 3.30 1 man, oiler, at 15 cents 3.30 3 men, diffusion battery, 1 at car and 2 above, at 12J cents , 8. 2.") 1 man, diffusion battery, director of battery, at 20 cuts 4.40 2 men, defecating, at 15 cents 6.60 2 men, double effects, at 15 cents 0.60 1 man, strike-pan, at $5 5.00 1 man, hot room, at l.'r cents 2.75 1 man, banc lei-. ,(t 12] cents 2.75 2 men, centrifugals, at 15 cents 1 man, machinist, at $3 3.00 2 men, engineers, ai 20 cents 4.40 5 men, firemen, at 15 cents 2 men, roustabouts, at 1 2 | cents 5.50 1 man, water ln.y_ 1 man, night watch 1.50 2 men, foremen, Total cost of labor 111. 75 Oil, etc Coal, 23 to .tint, mts •i i:*4.7i 28 This makes the cost of working a ton of cleaned cane, with a factory of the capac- ity of ours, about $1 per ton for labor and fuel, or 90 cents per ton of field cane. The cost per ton for salaries, insurance, wear and tear, etc., must depend, of course, not only upon the size of the salaries and other general expenses. Imt the number of tons worked. This plant, rated as above, is capable, in seventy days, of working 9,450 tons of chips, or 11,900 tons of field cane. There is necessarily considerable expense in preparing for the season's work, and again in closing up. Allowing liberally fortius and for the proper management and control of the works, we may still bring our total expenses, outside the cost of labor and fuel, at -SI per ton upon the above basis. Add to this the cost of labor and fuel, and we have $2 per ton as the total cost per ton of working cleaned cane. These figures are fully verified by our pay-rolls, coal bills, and other expenses while working to our capacity during the season, separated from expenditures in the completion and changing of machinery directly connected with experiments made. And to work a factory with a capacity at least one-half greater than this one would require very little additional expense except in the matter of fuel, and that would be relatively less. It seems to me a very conservative basis, with » factory of the capacity of ours, to place the actual cost of manafacture per ton of cane; and with such a factory as I have indicated, and with a season of, Bay, Beventy days, it is safe to place the cost of manufacture at considerably less than that sum. It requires but little figuring upon this basis, and with the cost of cane at $2 per ton, and the yield of cane and product secured this year, to show that we have developed a business of great interest and profit to our State and Nation. To run a factory at the maximum profit it must be operated constantly during the working season. The loss this season by reason of the irregular operation of the fac- tory for want of sufficient cane was very consideraole. During the whole season the factory was operated but three whole days of twenty-two hours each. Some idea oi the loss from this source may be gathered from the fact that not less than '2 tons of chips were lost at each break in the operation of the diffusion battery. Sixty-five such breaks or stoppages were made while running for sugar. With a larger crop of cane and better arrangements for delivery upon the part of the larger contractors, but little or no difficulty from this source need be apprehended in the future. Tons. Total cane bought 3,840 Total seed tops bought '437 Total field cane 4/277 This represents the crop, less about 30 t^us of seed tops yet to come in, from about 450 acres of land. There were something over 500 acres planted. Some of it failed to come at all, some "fell upon the rocky places, where they had not much earth, and when the sun was risen they were BCOrohed ;" so that, as nearly as We can estimate, about 450 acres of cane were actually harvested and delivered at the works. This would make I he a\ erage yield of cane 9^ tons per sore, or |19 per acre in dollars and cents. 1 beg. to observe, in this connection, that the present was the lightest in ton- nage of the five successive orops I have handled, it w as probably also the poorest in orystallizable sugar, covering the same period of time, in the state. It may not be amiss to observe, too, in this connection, that a very commonly accepted theory, that "the dryer the weather the sweeter the cane," is nol verified by my experience. of the total cane worked, 162 tons were consumed in experiments with our cutters and cleaning machinery before the cane was ripe enough for nse for either strap or No product whatever, not even seed, was saved from this, nor from in tons additional bronght in since the factory closed down. About 300 tons of mostly down and inferior cane was worked m the early part of the season on the crushers, and without diffusion. The only product from this was molasses, and of that but a small quantity. About 375 tons were also worked for molasses onlj on the diffusion bat tery. This, with the exception <>(' BO tons at the close of the season, and w Inch came in too Irregularly to be worked for sugar, was worked before the sugar season began, and 29 comprised such down patches and poorerquality of cane as could be gathered, mainly on the lands belonging to the company. It was an open question whether very poor cane could be worked successfully, even for sirups, on a diffusion battery. Nothing in this direction had hitherto been attempted. The total yield of molasses from this source, and from which no sugar has been taken, is 4,157 gallons. From this are sold 3,157 gallons, for $7*20.71 net. The remaining 1,000 gallons are still on hand, and are worth 25 cents per gallon. Tons. Deducting from total tonnage, less seed 3,840 Amount not worked for sugar We have total cane and leaves for sugar 2, 943 The total number of diffusion cells worked for sugar is "2,043. The weight of a cell of chips is 1,975 pounds. With this as a basis there was worked by diffusion for sugar 2,010 tons of clean cane as it entered the cells. Deducting this from '2.943 tons* of cane, with leaves and blades, and we have 333 tons of leaves and blades. The latter are to us a dead loss. A small portion has been hauled away by farmers for feed, but the bulk of this large tonnage is now fit only for manure. This waste was consider- ably increased by the failure of our separating machines, especially in the early part of the season, to properly discharge their duties. This whole subject was new : ma- chines had to be devised, and their adjustment, which is not yet perfect, caused con- siderable loss of cane. The weight of blades and leaves will not be far from li» per c< nt. of held cane. For either feed or fuel, especially where the latter is much of an object, the blades can be utilized so as to at least cover their own cost. At present we figure the loss from this source to seed account. SEED. There have been delivered of seed tops 437 tons. As nearly as we can estimate, there are yet to be delivered 30 tons, making in all 407 tons. From the best calcula- tions we can make, and judging from our experience in former years, Beed yields about ?<» per cent, of the weight of heads, as boughtin over the scales, in cleaned seed. Putting it at 60 per cent., and with 56 pounds to the bushel, we shall have L0,000 bushels of cleaned seed. A portion of this, estimated at 1,000 bushels, has, at considerable additional expense, been picked over by hand, head by head, tied into small bundh s, and hung up in the dry. This has been done to provide ourselves with pure seed of the different varieties for planting, and to supply a probable want in the same direction from others. For this hand-picked seed weexpeel to get oot less than |2 per bushel. The c«>st of handling the seed has not been kept separate from the OOSl of running the factory. The total cost of curing, stacking, and hand-picking w ill not be far from |700, fully |200 of \\ huh has been expended iii securing pure and perfectly cured seed for ourselves ami others willing to pay the extra price, Po thrash and prepare t he seed for market the seed will cost about 6 cents per bushel additional. [ estimate that we shall get for our seed orop $7,000 net. There will be left of seed tops, aftei thrashing, folly 100 tons. These aro good for feed or fuel. The l)ii Ik o I' our sirups are stoi.. I iniIk large ei si.- m or cellar under the wait house. The amount on hand we estimate at 50,000 gallons. This inoludes (he whole crop, except the 3,157 gallons sold in early part of season, (it' this we have sold, to be delivered within thirty days, and one oai load of which has already goue, 250 barrels, or about 12,500 gallons, at ■ price that will net us here 80 cents. This sale includes the bulb of our poorest Miu|^. I think we can safeh estimate our .sirup product, exclusive of package dering the oondition of our (actorj for work in cold weather, and the limited capacity of our centrifugal machinery, 1 reoommenc| their sale, without boiling, fortecondf}, 30 SUGAR. Of our sugar product, the Sta^e iDspector, Prof. E. B. Cowgill, has weighed and certified for State bounty 206,326 pounds. We have now in addition and ready for inspection 22,500 pounds. The centrifugals are still running. We estimate that we shall still have, exclusive of seconds, from 7,000 to 10,000 pounds, or, in all, 235,826 pouuds. This, at 5| cents, present price to jobbers, will produce us $13,559.98. To this add the State bounty of 2 cents per pound, and wo have for onr total sugar product 817,276.50. TOTAL PRODUCT OF THE SEASON. "Sugar, 235,826 pounds, at 5f cents $13, 559. 98 Sugar, State bounty, at 2 cents 4,716.52 17, 276. 50 Sirups, 51,000 gallons (estimated), at 20 cents 10, 200. 00 Seed (estimated) 7,000.00 Value of total product 34,476.50 TOTAL COST. Cane, 3,840 tons, at $2 7, 680. 00 Seed, 967 tons, at $2 1,934.00 9, 614. 00 Labor bill from August 15 to October 15, including labor for Department experiments 5, 737. 16 Coal, including all experiments 1,395. 77 Salaries, etc 3, 500. 00 Insurance, sundries, etc , 1,500. 00 Total 21,746.93 Total value 34,476.50 Total cost 21,246.93 Net -. 13,229.57 Of the above labor bill, there has been paid— By ilie Department 2,575.21 By the company 3, lt> 1. 79 Of the above coal bill, there has been paid— By the Department 324.00 By the company 1,071. 77 < )f the above cane account, there h;i^ been paid — By the Department 324.00 By the company 9,290.00 Or, of the above expenditures th< Department baa paid $3,234.75. Bills are now pending for $3,3 0, making in all $6V 534. 75, reducing our total cost from $21,746.93 to $15,212. 18, and leaving a profit from the season's work of $19,76 1.32. h w ill thus be seen that in the working of the crop, including cane for experimental purposes, the rtment of Agrionlture has paid or been charged with $6,534.75. This includes "The amount of sugar branded waa 234,607 pounds. The number of cells full of cane from which the juice was boiled for sugar waa 2,501, according to the record of the sugar-boiler.— E. r>. c. 31 the labor for the various experiments, the changing aud erection of new machinery for the trial of the same, and the salaries and wages of most of the high-priced help, and which, in the practical operation of a factory, will not be required. Respectfully submitted. W. L. Parkinson, Manager. Fort Scott, Kans., October 28, 1887. OUTLINE OF THE PROCESSES OF SUGAR-MAKING. As dow developed, the processes of making sugar from sorghum are" as follows : First, The topped cane is delivered at the factory by the farmers who grow it. Second, The cane is cut by a machine into pieces about 1^ inches long. Third, The leaves and sheaths are separated from the cut cane by fan- ning mills. Fourth, The cleaned cane is cut into fine bits called chips. Fifth, The chips are placed in iron tanks, and the sugar "diffused" — soaked out with hot water. Sixth, The juice obtained by diffusion has its acids nearly or quite neutralized with milk of lime, aud is heated and skimmed. Seventh, The defecated or clarified juice is boiled to a semi-sirup iu vacuum pans. Eighth, The semi-sirup is boiled "to grain" in a high vacuum in the "strike-pan." Ninth, The mixture of sugar and molasses from the strike-pan is passed through a mixing machine into centrifugal machines, which throw out the molasses and retain the sugar. DETAILS OF THE PROCESSES OF SUGAR-MAKING. An account of the processes of sugar-making ought doubtless to be- gin with the planting and cultivation, growth and ripening, of the cane, for it is here thai the sugar is made. No known processes of science or art, save those of plant growth, produce the peculiar combination of carbon with the elements of water which we call sugar. Not only is this true, but the chemist utterly fails in every attempt to bo modify existing similar combinations Of these elements as to produce cane sugar. It will he interesting here to note t hree substances of nearly the same composition, viz : Starch, sucrose or cane BUgar, ami gluCOSC or grape sugar. Their compositions are much alike, ami mav be Stated as follows : . bOB. Wat. i . oh* v: io I." n l 'J l •_■ i hemic*] formula i omponnd - *>!-:. i! CtHitOi In whi nta an equivalent of oarbon, H of hydrogen and Oof ox] r.iuis Blent of irater, 32 The chemist produces glucose, or grape sugar, from eitber starch or sugar by treatment with acid, but all attempts have failed to produce cane sugar from either starch or grape sugar. THE FARMEB THE REAL SUGAR-MAKER. The farmer then, or perhaps more accurately the power which impels the plant to select and combine in proper form and proportions the three elements, carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, is the real sugar maker. All after processes are merely devices for separating the sugar from the other substances with which it grows. HOW IS THE SUGAR FORMED IN THE OANE 1 The process of the formation of sugar in the cane is not fully deter- mined ; but analyses of canes made at different stages of growth show that the sap of growing cane contains a soluble substance having a composition and giving reactions similar to starch. As maturity ap- proaches, grape sugar is also found in the juice. A further advance towards maturity discloses cane sugar with the other substances, and at full maturity perfect canes contain much cane sugar and little grape sogar and starchy matter. In sweet fruits the change from grape sugar to cane sugar does not take place, or takes place but sparingly. The grape sugar is very sweet, however. INVERSION OR CHANGE OF CANE SUGAR INTO GRAPE SUGAR. Cane sugar, called also sucrose or crystallizable sugar, when in dilute solution, is changed very readily into grape sugar or glucose, a substance which is much more difficult than cane sugar to Crystallize. Tins change, called inversion, takes place in overripe canes; it sets in very soon after cutting in any cane during warm weather; it occurs in cane which has been injured by blowing down or by insects or by frost, and it probably occurs in cane which takes a second growth alter nearly or quite reaching maturity. inversion will be further considered in another place. Tin: PARMER'S PART MOST [MPORTANT OF ALL. Since sugar Is produced only by nature's processes of growth and is easily l08t through inversion, it is evident that the tanner's part in the process of sugar-making is first and most important of all. It is a sub- ject which invites most carefnl, scientific, and practical attention, and will be further considered under the subject " improving the cane." It is apparent from what has already been said, that to insure a suc- cessful OUtCOme from the Operations Of the factory, the cane must be so planted, cultivated, and matured as to make the sugar in its juice: 33 that it must be delivered to the factory very soon after cutting ; aud that it must be taken care of before the season of heavy frosts. THE WORK AT THE FACTORY. Tin: FIRST CUTTING. The operations of the factory are illustrated in the large drawing, to which the reader is referred in tracing the successive steps. The first cutting is accomplished in the ensilage or feed-cutter. This cutter is provided with three knives, fastened to the three spokes of a cast- iron wheel, which makes about 250 revolutions per minute, carrying the knives with a shearing motion past a dead knife. By a forced feed the cane is so fed as to be cut into pieces about 1 1 inches long. This cut- ting frees the leaves and nearly the entire sheaths from the pieces of cane. By a suitable elevator the pieces of cane, leaves, and sheaths are carried to the second floor. TIIK CLEANING. The elevator empties into a hopper, below which a series of four or live fans is arranged one below the other. By passing down through these fans the caueis separated from the lighter leaves much as grain is separated from chaff. The Leaves are blown away, and fiually taken from the building by an exhaust fan. This separ.it ion of the leaves and other refuse is essential to the Bncoess <>:' the sugar-making, for in them the largesl part of the coloring and other deleterious matters are contained. If carried into the diffusion battery these matters arc ex traded (see report8 of Chemical Division, U.S. Department of Agri- culture), and go into the juice with the sugar. As already stated, the process of manufacturing sugar is essentially one of separation. The mechanical elimination of these deleterious substances at the outset at once obviates the necessity of separating them later and by more diffi- cult methods, and relieves the juice of their harmful influences. Prom the fans the piece ne are delivered by a screw carrier to an ele- vator, which discharges into TIN: PINAL I ! 1 riNG-MACHl ! on the third floor. This machine consists of an S-inch cast-iron cylinder with knives like those of a planing-machine. It is really three cylin- ders placed end to end on the same Shaft, making the entire length 18 inches. The knives are inserted in slots and held in place with set- screw-. The cylinder revolves at the rate of about 1,200 per minute, carrying the knives past an iron dead knife, which is sel so close that do cane can pass without being cu1 into tine chip-. Prom this cutter the chips <»t caue are taken by an elevator and a conveyor to the ceils of tin- diffusion battery. The conveyor passes above and at one side of i;,i 19— No. 17 ;; 34 the battery, and is provided with an opening and a spout opposite each cell of the battery. The openings are closed at pleasure by a slide. A movable spout completes the connection with any cell whieh it is desired to till with chips. WHAT IS DIFFUSK The condition in which the sugars and other soluble substances exist in the cane is that of solution in water. This sweetish liquid is con- tained, like the juices of plants generally, in cells. The walls of these cells are porous. It has long been known that if a solution of sugar in water be placed in a porous or membranous sack and the sack placed in water, an action called osmose takes place, whereby the water from the outside and the sugar solution from the inside of the sack each pass through until the liquids on the two sides of the membrane are equally sweet. Other substances soluble in water behave similarly, but sugar and other readily erystallizable substances pass through much more readily than uncry stall izable or difficultly erystallizable bodies. To ap- ply this property to the extraction of sugar the cane is first cut into fine chips, as already described, and put into the diffusion cells, where water is applied and the sugar is displaced. WHAT HAS TAKEN PLACE IN Till; DIFFUSION CELLS. For the purpose of illustration, let us assume that when a cell has been filled with chips just as much water is passed into the cell as there was juice in the chips. The process of osmose or diffusion sets in, and in a lew minutes there is as much sugar in the liquid outside of the cane cells as in the juice in these cane cells; i. e., the water and the juice have divided the sugar, each taking half. Again, assume that as much liquid can be drawn from one as there was water added. It is plain that if the osmotic action is complete the liquid drawn off will be half as sweet as cane juice. It has now readied fresh chips in two, and again equalizatiou takes place. Hall' of the sugar from one was brought into two, so that it now contains \S portions of sugar, dissolved in 2 portions of liquid, or the liquid has risen to j of the strength of cane juice. Thi8 liquid having :f strength passes to three, and we have in th ire 1 1 portions of liquid, or after the action has taken place the lit pi id in three is g strength. One portion of this Liquid passes to four, and we have 1; portions of sugar in 2 portions of Liquid, or the liquid be- come! ngth. One portion of this liquid passes to live, and we ha\ e in live 1 1 g portions of sugar in 2 portions of liquid, or the liquid Strength. It is now called juice, and is drawn off and subjected to the processes of the subsequent operations of the factory. From this time forward a cell IS drawn tor every one tilled. 35 a 1 2 3 I 5 G 7 - It 10 n 12 •J w 1 :; w 1 1 1 w ] 1 ] .'> W 1 1 1 G w 1 ! 1 1 .i 7 w 1 ] 1 j 8 W 1 1 1 1 1 J ! !» W 1 1 1 1 1 1 .i 10 w 11 1 W 1 1 1 1 j 1 1 1 l ! ; 12 w 1 1 1 1 1 j 13 .i W 1 1 1 i 1 1 1 14 1 j w 1 1 1 1 1 1 15 1 1 j w 1 1 1 1 1 it; l l 1 j w 1 1 1 1 17 1 1 1 1 j W 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 J W 1 1 I 1 ] 1 1 J j w 1 20 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 •! w 21 w 1 1 1 1 1 1 i 22 w 1 1 1 1 1 i i \v 1 1 1 1 i 1 1 j 21 \v 1 1 1 i 1 ] l i 25 i w 1 1 i 1 ] l l 1 ) \v 1 ] 1 1 1 1 27 1 1 j w i ) 1 1 l 28 1 1 1 j \v 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 j \v 1 1 1 Throughout the operation the temperature is kept as near the boil- ing point as ean be done conveniently without danger of tilling .some of the battery cells with steam. Diffusion takes place more rapidly at high than at low temperatures, and the danger of fermentation, with the consequent loss of sugar, is avoided. The process will be readily understood from the above diagram, in which the columns represent the cells of the battery, the numbers at the left the number of diffusions; ?r, water; /, liquid in the cells, or passing through them, and J, juice to be drawn. INVERSION "i SUGAR IN* Tin: DIFFUSION CELLS. In the experiments at Port Scott in L886 much difficulty was experi- enced on account of inversion of the sugar in the diffusion battery. The report shows that this resulted from the use of soured cane and from delays in the operation of the battery on account of the imperfect work- ing of thecntting and elevating machinery, much of which was then experimental, (aider the circumstances, however, it became a matter of the gravest importance to Hud a method of preventing this inversion without in any manner interfering with the other processes. On the suggestion ot Professor Bwenson a portion of freshly precipitated car- bonate of lime was placed with the chips in each cell. [q the case of soured cane this took up the acid which otherwise produced inversion. In case no harmful acids were present this chalk was entirely iuactix e. Soured canes are nol desirable to work under any circumstances, and should be rejected by the chemist and not allowed to enter the factory. So, also, delays on account of imperfect niicliiiici\ are disastrous to profitable manufacturing and must be avoided. But tor those whode- 36 sire to experiment with deteriorated canes and untried cutting-machines, the addition of the calcium carbonate provides against disastrous re- sults which would otherwise be inevitable. CLARIFYING Oil DEFECATING THE JUICE. Immediately after it is drawn from the diffusion battery the juice is taken from the measuring tanks into the defecating tanks or pans. These are large, deep vessels, provided with copper steam coils in the bottom for the purpose of heating the juice. Sufficient milk of lime is added here to nearly or quite neutralize the acids in the juice, the test being made with litmus paper. The juice is brought to the boiling point, and as much of the scum is removed as can be taken quickly. The scum is returned to the diffusion cells, and the juice is sent by a pump to the top of the building, where it is boiled and thoroughly skimmed. These skimmings are also returned to the diffusion cells. This method of disposing of the skimmings was suggested by Mr. Parkinson. It is better than the old plan of throwing them away to decompose and create a stench about the factory. Probably a better method would be to pass these skimmings through some sort of lilter, or perhaps better still, to filter the juice and avoid all skimming. After this last skimming the juice is ready to be boiled down to a thin sirup, in THE DOUBLE-EFFECT EVAPORATORS. These consist of two large closed pans provided within with steam pipes of copper, whereby the liquid is heated. They are also connected with each other and with pumps in such a way as to reduce the press- ure in the first to about three-fifths and in the second to about oue- fifth the normal atmospheric pressure. The juice boils rapidly in the first at-some what below the temperature of boiling water, and in the second at a still lower temperature. The exhaust steam from the engines is used for heating the first pan, and the vapor from Hie boiling juice in the first pan is hot enough to do all the boiling in the second, and is taken into the copper pipes of the sec- ond for this purpose. In this way the evaporation is effected without so great expenditure of furl as is necessary in open pans, or in single- effect vacuum pans, and the deleterious influences of long continued high temperature on the crystallizing powers of the sugar are avoided. From the double efl'eels the sirup is stored in tanks ready to be taken into the strike-pan, where the sugar is crystallized. i ill I [RSI ' ii am IE TO PAUSE, At this point the juice has just reached a condition in which it will keep. Prom the momenl the cane is cul in the fields until now every dela\ LS liable to entail loss of sugar by inversion. Alter the water is put into the cells of the battery with the chips, the temperature la care- 37 fully kept above that at which fermentation takes place most readily, and the danger of inversion is thereby reduced. But with all the pre- cautious known to science up to this point the utmost celerity is neces- sary to secure the best results. There is here, however, a natural divis- ion in the process of sugar-making, which will be further considered under the heading of ki auxiliary factories." Any part of the pi 'heretofore described may be learned in a few days by workmen of intel- ligence and observation who will give careful attention to their respect- ive duties. BOILING THE SIR DP TO GRAIN THE SUGAR. This operation is the next in course, and is performed in what is known at the sugar factory as the strike-pan, a large air-tight vessel from which the air and vapor are almost exhausted by means of a suit- able pump and condensing apparatus. As is the case with the saccha- rine juices of other plants, the sugar from sorghum crystallizes most readily at medium temperature. There are two ways of proceeding. The simplest is to boil the sirup in the vacuum pan until it has reached about the density at which crystallization begins, then draw it oil' into suitable vessels and set it away in a hot room (about 1 10° to 120° F.) to crystallize slowly. The proper density is usually judged by the boiler, by observing the length to which a sample of the hot liqnid from the pan can be drawn. This is called the "string proof" test A far bet- ter method is to " boil to grain " in the pan. This is better becanse it gives the operator control of the size of the grain within certain limits, because it gives abetter appearing sugar, and more important still, be- cause with proper skill it gives a better yield. Several descriptions of this delicate operation have been published. After reading some of the best of these, the writer found, on attempting to boil to grain, that more definite instruction was necessary; and after obtaining the instruction it became apparent that while almost any one can learn to "boil to grain," yet to obtain the best yield requires personal skill and powers of observation and comparison which will be obtained in widely differ- ent degrees by different persons. To bee en-1 a good sugar boiler, one mnst be an enthusiastic specialist. The Parkinson Sugar Company were fortunate in securing for this important work the services of .Mr. Frederick Hiuze, a native of Hanover, Germany, and a graduate of the ••Sugar Industry School " at Braunschweig. Though a young man, Mr. Hiuze has bad a Large experience, having assisted his brother in the erection and opcr.it ion of sugar factories iu Germany, and since com ing to America having worked in the beet sugar factory nt Alvarado, OaL, and in cane SUgar factories in Louisiana and in Cuba. Since the close of the working season al Port Scott, Mr. Eli nze has again gone to Louisiana and taken char-.' of a strike pan at the sugar house of K\ Governor Warmoth, where he worked lasl season. The process of boiling to grain maj be described as follows : A por- tion of the simp is taken Into the pan, and boiled rapidly in vacuo to 38 the crystallizing density. If in a sirup the molecules of sugar are brought sufficiently near to each other through concentration — the re- moval of the dissolving liquid — these molecules attract each other so strongly as to overcome the separating power of the solvent, and they unite to form crystals. Sugar is much more soluble at high than at low temperatures, the heat acting in this as in almost all cases as a re- pulsive force among the molecules. It is therefore necessary to main- tain a high vacuum in order to boil at a low pressure, in boiling to grain. When the proper density is reached, the crystals sometimes fail to ap- pear, and a fresh portion of cold sirup is allowed to enter the pan. This must not be sufficient in amount to reduce the density of the con- tents of the pan below that at which crystallization may take place. This cold sirup causes a sudden though slight reduction of tempera ture, which may so reduce the repulsive forces as to allow the attraction among the molecules to prevail, resulting in the inception of crystalliza- tion. To discover this requires the keenest observation. When begin- ning to form, the crystals are too minute to show either form or size, even when viewed through a strong magnifying glass. There is to be seen simply a very delicate cloud. The inexperienced observer would entirely overlook this cloud, his attention probably being directed to some curious globular and annular objects, which I have nowhere seen explained. Very soon after the sample from the pan is placed upon glass for observation the surface becomes cooled and somewhat hard- ened. As the cooling proceeds below the surface contraction ensues, and consequently a wrinkling of the surface, causing a shimmer of the light in a very attractive manner. This, too, is likely to attract more attention than the delicate, thin cloud of crystals, and may be even con- founded with the reflection and refraction of light, by which alone the minute crystals are determined. The practical operator learns to dis- regard all other attractions, and to look for the cloud and its peculiari- ties. When the contents of the pan have again reached the proper density another portion of sirup is added. The sugar which this con- tains is attracted to the crystals already formed, and goes to enlarge i hex- rather than t<> form new crystals, provided the first are sufficiently numerous to receive the sugar as rapidly as it can crystallize. The contents Of the pan are repeatedly brought to the proper density, and fresh sirup added, as above described, until the desired size of grain is obtained, or until the pan is full. Good management should bring about these two conditions at the same time. If a sufficient num- ber of crystals lias not been started at the beginning of the opera! ion to receive the sugar from the sirup added, a fresh crop of crystals will t> -tailed at such time as t he eivst allizat ion heroines too rapid to be accommodated on the surfaces of the grain already formed. The older and larger crystals grow more rapidly, by reason of their greater at- tractive force, than the newer and smaller ones on succeeding addi- tions of Sirup, SO that the disparity in size will increase as tin' work 39 proceeds. This condition is by all means to be avoided, since it entails serious difficulties on the process of separating the sugar from the molasses. In case this second crop of crystals, called u false grain" or "mush sugar," lias appeared, the sugar boiler must act upon bis judgment, guided by his experience, as to what is to be done. Be may take enough thin sirup into the pan to dissolve all of the crystals, and begin again, or, if very skillful, he ma}' so force the growth of the false grain as to bring it up to a size that can be worked. No attempt will be made here to describe the methods of L- boiling for yield," nor to point out the methods by which many special diffi- culties are to be overcome. Not only does the limited experience of the writer make him hesitate to enter upon these intricate subjects, but their discussion would unduly extend this report. It may be remarked that the handling of the cane, the treatment of the juice, and the prep- aration of the simp, have much to do witli the difficulties and success of this the most intricate of all. THE FIVAL SEPARATION OF THE SUGAR FROM THE MOLA£ The completion of the work in the strike pan leaves the sugar mixed with molasses. The mixture is called melada or masse cuite. It may be drawn oil' into iron sugar wagons and set in the hot room above men- tioned, in which case still more of the sugar which remains in the mi- crystallized state generally joins the crystals, somewhat increasing the yield of "first sugar." At the proper time these sugar wagons are emptied into a mixing machine, where the mass is brought to a uni- form consistency. If the sugar wagons are not used, the strike-pan is emptied directly into the mixer. THE (KM RIFUGAL machines. From the mixer the melada is drawn into the centrifugal machines. These consist, fust, of an iron case resembling in form the husk of mill- stones. A spout at the bottom of the husk connects with a molasses tank. Within this husk is placed a metallic vessel with perforated sides. This vessel is either mounted or hung on a vertical axis, and is lined with wire cloth. Having taken a proper portion of the melada into the centrifugal, the operator starts it to revolving, and bv means of a friction clutch makes such connection with the engine as gives ii abonl 1,500 revolutions per minute. The centrifugal force developed drives the liquid molasses through the meshes of the wire cloth, and out against the husk, from which it flows off into a tank. The sugar, being solid, is retained by the wire cloth, [f there is in the melada the n false grain" already mentioned, it passes into the meshes of the wire (doth, and prevents the passage of the rnolass* 9, After the tno« lasses has bee arlj all thrown oat, 0 small quantity of wat< sprayed over the sugar whil< the centrifugal is m motion. This is forced through the sugar, and carries with it much of the molasses 40 which would otherwise adhere to the sugar, and discolor it. If the sugar is to be refined, this washing with water is omitted. When the sugar has been sufficiently dried, the machine is stopped, the sugar taken out, and put into barrels for market. Simple as the operation of the centrifugals is, the direction of the sugar-boiler as to the special treatment of each strike is necessary, since he, better than any one else, knows what difficulties are to be ex- pected on account of the condition in which the melada left the strike- pan. CAPACITY OF THE SUGAR FACTORY. It has already been shown that the operation of the diffusion battery should be continuous. The experience so far had in diffusing sorghum indicates eight minutes as the proper time for filling a cell; or one cell should be filled and another emptied every eight minutes. This, with a battery of twelve (.-ells, nine of which are under pressure, gives seventy- two minutes as the time during which the chips are subject to the action of the water. If the chips are cut sufficiently fine, the time may be re- duced to seven or even to six minutes to the cell without probable loss from poor extraction. The time may be extended to ten minutes per cell without danger of damage when working sound canes. Taking eight minutes as the mean, we shall have one hundred and eighty as the number of cells diffused in a day. To secure the best re- sults, all other parts of the factory must be adjusted to work as rapidly as the diffusion battery, so that the capacity of the battery will deter- mine the capacity of the factory. A plant having a battery like that at Fort Scott, in which the cells are each capable of containing a ton of cane chips, should then have a capacity of L80 tons of cleaned cane, or 200 tons of cane with leaves, or 240 tons of cane as it grows in the field, per day of twenty-four hours. Those who have given most attention to the subject think that a bat- tery composed of 14-ton cells may be operated quite as successfully as a battery of 1-ton cells. Such a battery would have a capacity of 300 tons of field cane per day. SIMPLIFICATION or' THE DIFFUSION BATTERY. The diffusion battery as used at the Parkinson factory is an intricate and expensive apparatus, and yet, it is simple as compared with those first used in Germany and Prance. The < rermans have, however, within a few years constructed batteries even simpler than that at Fori Scott. An apparatus lias even been constructed composed of a single vessel through which the water passes in one direction while the chips are moved slowly in the other by a screw conveyor. The batteries which will lie used in this country, however, will doubtless be constructed on the genera] plan of that used at Port Scott, with such modifications as will cheapen the construction and reduce the labor of operating. 41 THE CUTTING AND CLEANING APPARATUS. This consists of modifications of appliances which have long been used for other purposes. Simple as it is, and presenting only mechan- ical problems, the cutting, cleaning, and elevating apparatus is likely to be the source of more delays and perplexities in the operation of the sugar factory than any other part. The diffusion battery in good hands works perfectly; the clarification of the juice causes no delays; the concentration to the condition of semi-sirup may be readily, rapidly, and surely effected in apparatus which has been brought to great perfection by long experience, and in many forms; the work at the strike-pan requires only to be placed in the hands of an expert; the mixer never fails to do its duty. There are various forms of centrifugal machines on the market, some of which are nearly perfect. lt\ then, the mechanical work of delivering, culling, cleaning, and elevating the cane can be accomplished with regularity and rapidity, the operation of a well-adjusted sugar factory should pro- ceed without interruption or delay from Monday morning to Saturday night. The machines used at Fort Scott for these purposes have not been described iu detail. They need only to be made stronger and simpler. Their general plan is not far from that which is likely to be in general use in the near future. The methods of handling cane need some modifications as to details. The arrangement for making the factory engine unload tin* cane from the farmers' wagons will probably never be abandoned, since it is much nmre rapid and leaves the cane in better shape than it can be left by hand. Till: SCIENTIFIC WORK. The present favorable condition of the sorghum-sugar industry, like the Immense development of the beet-sugar industry of Europe, is in- debted tor its existence largely to long-continued scientific work; and while much of the scientific manipulation which it was once feared would be necessary to SUCCeSS has been eliminated in piact ice, ye1 the scientist has not been able to BO far Minplify the subject as to enable the manu- facturer to dispense with his services. I shall try here to make a plain statement of the scientific work necessary in a sugar factory underde- velopments 80 tar made. WHERE illi: SCIENTIFIC WORE is NEEDED. It has already been shown that it is only on reaching maturity that sorghum is a profitable sugar plant. To determine when most faun products are ripe is a simple matter of inspection. But it is astonish- ing to note how greatly di fife rent will be the views of, say, a dozen prac- tical farmers as to when a given field of wheat i> ripe. Experience iu judgingof the ripeness <»t' sorghum i^ far less extended than in the ca.se 42 of wheat. Indeed, the varying conditions of the weather so greatly affect the appearance of ripeness, t. e., the hardness of the seed, the con- dition of the leaves, etc., that the manufacturer, who must know before he uses cane whether it is ripe or green, is left no other than the test of chemical analysis. This determines the one point of interest to him, namely, whether the cane has reached such a degree of maturity as to have made its sugar. Again, although the cane may have reached full maturity, if it shall have been cut and exposed to the atmospheric influences of the earlier part of the season for any considerable time, the sugar may have been changed to glucose. In moist weather this change may take place with- out any accompanying change in the appearance of the cane. A notable instance illustrating this kind of depreciation occurred at the Parkinson works during the season just closed. A farmer brought in a sample of excellent-looking cane. The book-keeper, who lias had considerable experience about sugar factories, examined it, and after ascertaining by the hydrometer that the juice contained about 13 per cent, of dis- solved solids, was about to direct the farmer to bring in the cane. An analysis showed that about 8 of this 13 percent, was glucose, 3 per cent, sugar, and 2 per cent, other substances not more valuable than glucose. Inquiry disclosed the fact that the cane had been cut for three days. The weather had been moist, so that no change in ap- pearance had taken place. To have worked such cane for sugar would have been worse than useless, since the glucose and other substances its juice contained would have held from crystallization not only the 3 per cent, of sugar which this cane contained, but a considerable amount more had it been worked with better juice. Instances might be multiplied to show the perplexities and disap. pointments which are liable to result unless a most careful supervision be had of the condition of the cane when it enters the factory. Cer- tainly no field of cane should be cut until the development of its su- gar has been reached and determined by the best means available. In the early part of the season, while the weather is warm, all cane cut in the forenoon should be worked the same day, and that cut in the afternoon should be worked by noon the next day. During the cooler weather of the latter part of the season it is not necessary to be quite so prompt. The delays which will be admissible can be deter- mined by analysis of the cane. Not only is it necessary to know that the cane enters the factory with its sugar intact, but it is important to see that it does not sutler inver- sion during the process of manufacture. To prevent this all delays must be avoided. The cane must go promptly ami regularly through the cut- ters and cleaners as rapidly as it can be thoroughly diffused, in a pile of cane chips inversion of the sugar very soon begins, and is soon fol- lowed, if not accompanied, by acetic fermentation, [f acetic or other active acid be present in the diffusion cells it causes rapid inversion of 43 the sugar under the high temperature of the battery. After leaving the battery the treatment of the juice must be prompt to guard against inversion. Indeed, as has been remarked above, every part of the fac- tory in which the work is done until the juice has been reduced to a sirup should be of such a capacity that it can surely do its work at all times as rapidly as the battery can be operated. It is a matter of great importance to the manufacturer to know whether, at any stage of the process, inversion is taking place. To determine this the analysis of average samples of freshly-cut chips may be compared with analysis of the product at other stages. For example: To determine whether in- version is taking place in the battery, crush out and analyze the juice from samples of chips as they enter; then analyze samples of the dilfu. sion juice as it comes from the battery. If the relation of sugar to glucose is the same in these analyses it may be concluded that no in- version is taking place. If, however, the proportion of sugar to glucose is smaller in the diffusion juice than in that obtained directly from the chips by crushing, inversion is probably taking place, ami its cause must be sought and remedied. The subsequent processes of manufacture give little occasion for in- version, unless from delay before the juice has been reduced to sirup. The safest plan is to not let it cool until it is ready for the strike-pan. If unavoidable delays lead to a suspicion that inversion may have taken place, the matter may be determined by analysis. Inversion is not the only cause of loss to be guarded against in the battery. As shown by the report of the chemist of the United States Department of Agricult- ure, the average extraction of the battery at the Parkinson factory this season was 92.01 per cent, of all the sugars the cane contained. A closer average extraction than 95 percent, is scarcely to be expected, and an extraction of less than 90 per cent, should be considered inad- missible. Poor extraction may result from overhurryiug the battery, from allowing the temperature to run too low, from raising the tem- perature too highly, thereby tilling the upper parts of the cells with steam instead of water, i r from improper manipulation of the valves, or from failure of the cutting machines to properly prepare the chips. Tin- perfection of the extraction may be determined by analysis of the exhausted chips from the battery, and if not found satisfactory, the Cause 18 Of COnr8e t<» be sought on! and remedied. It is desirable for the manufacturer to know how much Bugar he is leaving in the molasses, ami also how much molasses he i^ leaving in the sugar ; i. > .. the purity of the sugar. These points are readily deter- mined by analysis. who 0AM no THIS SOIEM1 CFIC WORB .' It is doubtless desirable, though not essential, thai the superintend' ent of a sugar factory be also a chemist The analyses indicated in the above pages are not intricate. To make them all. howo er, \\ ill require 44 considerable time, and whether the superintendent be capable or inca- pable of making them, he will scarcely be able to spare the time which ought to be devoted to them. Any of the graduates of our agricultural or other colleges who have taken a good course of chemistry, with laboratory practice, can by a few months' special training in sugar chemistry and practice in sugar analysis become entirely competent to do the work required in the or- dinary operation of a factory, under the direction of the superintendent. HOW TO MAKE THE ANALYSES NECESSARY IN THE SUGAR FACTORY. It is hoped that the following discussion of the methods of making sugar analyses will be of interest to some who may engage in such work, and throw some light on the subject for the general reader. For fuller discussions of the subject, the reader is referred to Tucker's Sugar Analysis, and the bulletins of the Chemical Division, U. S. De- partment of Agriculture. It is well to remember here, that on account of the sugar and other substances dissolved in it cane juice is denser than water. Thus, if 9 pounds of water and 1 pound of sugar be mixed together the water will dissolve the sugar, and any given volume of the mixture, say a pint, will weigh one and four-hundred ths times as much as a pint of water. Take another illustration: A gallon of water weighs about S.\ pounds, while a gallon of the above supposed sugar solution weighs about 8| pounds. If a sugar solution be made, containing 20 per cent, of its weight in sugar, a gallon of it will weigh about 0 pounds. A gallon of a solution of equal parts by weight of sugar and water weighs about 10J pounds, and sirups containing three parts sugar to one of water weigh about Hi pounds to the gallon. THE HYDBOMETEB OB SACCHABIMETEB. Instruments called hydrometers or s lecharimeters have been made for determining the relative amounts of sugar and water in solutions. These would be sufficient ly accurate tor the purposes of the manufact- urer if the juice contained nothing but cane sugar and water; but the grape sugar and other substances contained in the juice Increase the density m about the same proportion as it is increased by the cane sugar. While, therefore, the hydrometer is of nse in determining the amount of solid mall -r contained in the juice, and may be used in some cases, as in determining tie- degree of extraction, etc., it does not determine the relative proportions of the substances present. two METHODS OP ANALYSIS. Two methods of determining the percentage of cane sngar in a sample of juice are available. These are the chemical and the optical. By the 45 first may be determined the percentages of, first, cane sugar; second, grape sugar, otherwise called glucose; third. " not sugar;* fourth, water; constituting the juice. By the second method, the cane sugar alone is determined. The optical method is, however, conveniently used in con- nection with the chemical, in making complete analyses. One of the chemical methods will be considered first. I shall go as little as possi- ble into teclmicalitv here. This is the principal reagent used in the chemical methods of analy- sis. There arc several modifications of it. Perhaps none of these is better than Violettds solution : * 34.04 grams pure crystallized copper sulphate. 184.00 grams tartrate soda and potash (Rochelle salt). 78.00 grams caustic soda. The copper salt is to be dissolved in 140 cubic centimeters of distilled water, slowly added to a solution of the tartrate and caustic soda, and the whole made up to 1 liter at standard temperature (17£° Centigrade; 63JC Fabrenh it). This should be a clear blue solution. Till: GBAPE-SUGAB TEST. If now a portion of this copper solution be brought to a boil, and to it be added a solution containing grape sugar, the blue color will be Changed through various shades of purple to crimson, and finally to scarlet. The reaction has reached the decisive stage when the color is crimson. On Standing, the crimson precipitate settles to the bottom of the vessel. This is the reaction for the determination of grape sugar. If a definite quantity, say 10 <•<•., of the copper solution be used in the above experiment, a definite quantity of grape sugar. .<>.") grams, will have to be added to perfect the reaction. Now by noting the amount of sample added to complete the reaction, the determination of the per centage of grape sugar from the experimental data becomes a mere matter of arithmetic. Thus, if 1 grams of the sample had been added to produce the complete reaction, we should have known that those I grams of sample contained live hundredths of a grain of grape sugar. .05-4- 4 =.0125, or LJ per cent of grape sugar, •rm: < \ m: SUGAB i i. Oane sugar lias no such effect on the copper solution. !t has been remarked already that cane sugar changes rerj readily into map.' sugar. This change is easily produced by boiling the solution of cane sugar: for example, the cane juice with dilute hydrochloric or sulphuric acid. The cane juice will now contain the grape SUgar it originally COU- LS, p. 186, 46 tained, and in addition that which resulted from the inversion of the caue sugar. It now only remains to nearly neutralize the acid in the solution, cool it, and execute the test and calculations for grape sugar as before. Subtracting the percentage of grape sugar originally found from that shown by the last determination gives the percentage of grape sugar resulting from the inversion of the cane sugar. The per- centage of cane sugar is .95 of the grape sugar produced by inversion of the cane sugar. The soluble solids "not sugar " contained in the juice may be estimated by subtracting the sum of the percentages of the two sugars from the entire percentage of soluble solids as deter- mined by the hydrometer. THE OPTICAL METHOD. The optical method of determining the percentage of caue sugar de- pends upon the met that a beam ofrpolarized light is rotated to the right in passing through a solution of this sugar. While the apparatus for executing this test is expensive and the explanation intricate, the manipulation is simple and rapid and the results satisfactory; so that it is probable that all well-regulated sugar factories will be provided with these instruments. For many of the purposes of the factory the determinations of the percentage of cane sugar is all that is required. The analyst will prob- ably be able to make forty or fifty of these determinations per day by the optical method, if so many are required. THE FURTHER SCIENTIFIC WORK. The money, skill, and knowledge which have during the last few years been expended upon the sorghum plant have made available a new in- dustry. The possibilities of this new industry can be fully understood only on more fully considering some of the facts which chemical science has made known. The analyses made at the Parkinson Sugar Works during the season of iss7 by Dr. 0. A. Cramp ton and Mr, Norman J. Pake, chemists of the T. S. Department of Agriculture, are of great value in this connec- tion, and when supplemented by the further work now in progress in the laboratories of the Department at Washington will become a basis for future work. In tables of analyses the percentages given are usually computed on the weigh 1 of tin- juice contained in the cane. Those who are familiar with the babil of the plant will readily see thai the cane may be con- sidered in three parts, viz: (1) The lops, including the seed and ll! to is inches of the upper pari of the stalk; (2) the Leaves, including the leaf sheaths; (3) the body of the cane after the tops and leaves have been removed. This body of the cane contains nearly all of the juice, and practically all of the sugar. 47 A ton of sorghum as it grows is composed of these three parts in about the following average proportions : Topped and cleaned cane pounds . . 1, 500 Tops do.... 300 Leaves and sheaths do '200 Total 2,000 The juice constitutes about *00 per cent, of the topped and cleaned cane. Analytical estimates aud the estimates of the sugar factory are based on the ton of topped and cleaned cane. In order to place the matter clearly before the reader, and at the same time to compare the amount of sugar contained in Louisiana cane with that contained in sorghum, and to make other studies of the subject, I have computed from the analytical tables of the United States Department of Agri- culture the weights of " cane sugar," " grape sugar," and soluble solids " not sugar," found to exist in the ton of topped and cleaned sorghum for the years 1883-'87, and in the ton of cleaned Louisiana cane for the years 1884-'8G. u Cane sugar," "grape sugar," and soluble solids " not .sugar" contained in a ton of cleaned sorghum and cleaned Louisiana cane. [Computed from the analytical tables of the United States Department of Agriculture, the weight of juice 1>< log assumed at 1,800 poonds per too In either cane. 1 1883. 1884. 1885. 188G. 1887. Means. Constituents. Soi ghum. Louisiana oane.* Sorghnm.1 Louisiana eane. - — u $ a a £ ■: r. - V bum. Louisiana Soi {hum. Louisiana eane. a •z — 5 <■ e8 a* ■ 3 "Z i h3 Cane sugar I.hs. Lbs. L62.70 Lbs. 243.00 Lbs. 171.80 Lbs. 183.10 Lbs. 23a 00 Grape sugar 73.41 T.»tai sugars Nol sugar . . . . 236. 11 287. 22 242. 66 227. 4s 238. on 250. 82 254. 01 244 89 Total soluble solids 04.41 47. SS 50.00 I; ' 40. 97 41. 16 36L 64 290. 54 277. 18282.0030; - . 296.62 * No record. i The irriter made a series of analyst grown near Sterling, Cans., In 1884, taking the juice as it came from the crusher in the regit] i\ - OUM of in .111 uf.it- tin «'. The nn an of these from the liist mill gave 222 12 pounds of sogai per ton of oane. [n his report of the ejop of 1884 Dr. Wiley says the lam1 on which the cane analyzed bj him and ineluded in the above summaiy was grown had atop- !' descent. If these experiments in selection could be made in different parts of the country, and especially by the various agricultural stations and colleges, they would have additional value and force. In a country whose soil and climate are as dj versified as jn this, results obtained in one locality are not always reliable for another. If some unity of act ion could in this way be established among bhose-engaged in agricultural research, much, t ime and labor would be saved and more Valuable results be (d)tained. A VALUABLE CONTENT OF SORGHUM DANE. The grape-sugar con ten! of sorghum is very large. When freed from BUCh of tin- " not sugar" products as have an unpleasant taste, this con- stitutes an elegant simp constituent, it is composed chiefly of two sugars, called, respectively, dextrose and levuloso. The last is sweeter than cane sugar. This -rape Bugar is that to which most sweet fruits owe their sweetness. The large amount of it— over 63 pounds to the ton of cane— is likely 1" be recognized in the near future as one of the most valuable contents of sorghum cane. 49 IM PE 11 FE C I S 1 : VAR A TIO N . At present we are able to separate only a portion of the cane sugar from the other constituents of the juice. It is believed to be impossible by methods at present used to separate more than tbe difference between the cane sugar and the grape sugar. Thus the sorghum of 18S3 could have yielded not more than 162.7— 73.44 =89.2G pounds per ton, while that of 1884 should, by the same computation have yielded 2G4.9— 22.32 =242.58 pounds per ton. The available sugar in the sorghum crop of 1887, by the same method, was 171.8—60 = 111.8 pounds, and the av- erage available sugar in the sorghum for the five years was 193.1— 53.55=139.55 pounds. This is supposing that the juice is all obtained from the cane, and that there is no waste in the subsequent proce At Fort Scott, however, only a little more th in 92 per cent, of the sugar was obtained from the cane, so that the above figures should be multi- plied by .'.>2. making the mean available sugar with this extraction 128.38 pounds, and the available sugar of 1887, 102.8 pounds per ton of cleaned cane. THE YIELD OBTAINED AT FORT SCOTT. The actual yield obtained was 234,607 pounds of first sugar, from 2,501 cells. If, now, the cell be taken as a ton, the yield of fust sugar was 234,C07-i- 2,501 =93.8 pounds. Enough of the molasses was reboiled for a second (aop of crystals, and the sugar separated to ascertain that 1."* to 20 pounds, per ton of cane represented, could be obtained. Call- ing it 15, we have for the entire yield 93.8+15=108.8 pounds per ton of cleaned cane. This is a larger yield than is obtainable according to the heretofore accepted theory. There is some uncertainty about the weight ol'a cell, which may account for the discrepancy between the theoretical and the actual results. It is possible, however, that the theory may need reconstruction. In any case the yield actually obtained is most gratifying. 1 have made no mention in the above of the exceptionally large \ ields of some special strikes made during the season. Oue Strike gave 109 pounds of merchantable sugar for each cellful of Chips. The seconds from this would doubtless have brought the yield up to 130 pounds. But the general reader and the prospective manufacturer are mora in- terested in average than in special results, [t seems safe to assume that a mean of 1 no pounds of sugar and 12 gallons of molasses can be made from each ton of cleaned sorghum cane of average richness Science suggests several methods for the complete separation of the cane sugar from the grape sugar and the " not SUgar," and further <\ perimeuts in this direction should be the work of the near future. A.8 yet almost nothing has been done towards the development of inelhods of separatiug the grape sugar from the not sugar, 'flu's subject pre- sents a most inviting field tor the chemist. i;,H!L_ No. 17 1 50 THE FUTURE OF THE SORGHUM-SUGAR INDUSTRY. The sorghum-sugar industry now seems to have an assured future. The quantities of sugar and molasses, and other valuable products ob- tained from each ton of the cane and from each acre of land, well re- munerate the farmer for his crop and the manufacturer for his invest- ment and the labor and skill required to operate the factory. An acre ot land cultivated in sorghum yields a greater tonnage of valuable products than in any other crop, with the possible exception of hay. I fader ordinary methods of cultivation, 10 tons of cleaned cane per acre is somewhat above the average, but the larger varieties often exceed 12, while the small Early Amber sometimes goes below 8 tons per acre. Let 7J tons of cleaned cane per acre be assumed for the il- lustration. This corresponds to a gross yield of 10 tons for the fanner, and at $2 per ton gives him 820 per acre for his crop. These 7J tons of clean cane will yield — Pounds. Sugar 750 Molasses 1, 000 Seed 900 Fodder (green leaves) 1,500 Exhausted chips (dried) 1,500 Total 5, (i50 The first three items, which are as likely to be transported as wheat or corn, aggregate 2,650 pounds per acre. Sorghum will yield 7J tons of cleaned cane per acre more surely than corn will yield 30 bushels, or wheat 15 bushels per acre. In the comparison, then, of products which bear transportation, these crops stand as follows : Sorghum, at 7J> tons,2,0o0 pounds per acre. Corn,a1 30 bushels, 1,680 pounds per acre. Wheal, at L5 bushels, 900 pounds per acre. The sugar from the sorghum is worth say 5 cents per pound; the molasses, 1 £ cents per pound; the seed, \ cent per pound. The products give market values as follows: 750 pounds sugar at say ■".cuts*' (37.50 1,000 pounds molasses al Bay l , cents* 17. f)0 (J00 pounds seed at say \ cent* 4. f>0 Total value of sorghum, Less (odder .v.). .mi The corn crop gives L,680 pounds, al | cenl 3, 10 The wheal crop giv< a 900 pounds, al I cenl 9.00 Thus it will be seen that the SOrghum yields to the farmer more than twice as much per acre us either of the leading cereals, and as a gross ■ The sugar sold t Ins \ car at •">£ oenta per pound, i he molasses at 20 cents per gallon, and i in- seed at per bushel of .")<> pounds. The seed is of about equal value with com for feeding stock. 51 product ot agriculture and manufacture on our own soil more than six times as much per acre as is usually realized from cither of these stand- ard crops. LENGTH OF THE SEASON FOR WORKING SORGHUM. The season for harvesting sorghum is limited to the months during which it may be worked. At present, this dates in oar southern coun- ties from about the last of July to the middle or last of October, if a proper selection of varieties of cane has been made. Without doubt this season may, and will be, lengthened. On this point I can do no better than quote from my report to this Department in 1S84 : A-. .shown by the reports of the sugar factories of Kansas for the Last two years, the working season is confined almost exclusively to the months of September and I Octo- ber. When the great cost of sugar- works, the expense of keeping them in repair, and the salaries of the specialists, arc considered, the importance of lengthening the work- ing season becomes painfully apparent. That a sl00,()00 factory should lie idle for ten months every year, implies that it must bo ruu at an enormous profit during the two months or fail to pay interest on the investment. Several plans have been proposed for extending the time during which the works may run. One of these is the development of earlier varieties of cane by systematic selection of seed, cultivation, and breeding. The researches of modern physiological botanists give reason to hope for good results in this direction. Another plan proposed is to reduce the juice to a semi-sirup in small auxiliary fac- tories, store the semi-Birop, and make it into sugar during the winter months. This has much to commend it. STORING CANES IN' SIL08. Experiments have been made repeatedly in keeping canes in aheds, hut with indif- ferent snecess. A good deal has been done in the line of preserving green forage crops in pits, and expensive silos have been made and used. Sorgham has been laid away and kept in these with fair BUCCess. A practical plan for keeping cane by simply covering it with a few inches ot" -ml lias been used in three experiments now on record. The first of these was made at Tilsonbnrg, Ontario, in 1831-82, bj Mr. Frank Stroback, now of Sterling, Kans. Mr. Stroback has kindly handed me a copy of his record, which is given below, with the addition of the column giving the density of the juice in degrees liamne. to render these results mote easily comparable with tl;e other analyses given in this paper. Frank Stroback's i tpeiimeni in keeping cane in rilo. When put in silo. Octoboi 8 1--1 Docerobi ■ ■■. 1881 December IT. L882 March I - Batu Balling. 11.7(1 Pulai laatlon. V2.-:s The cane used in this experiment was the early amber The jo ice showed a de- preciation, Wui the results were encouraging. In the fall of i--:. Professor Wiley, chief chemist of the U.S. Department ol ! culture, placed ;; t.m of ' mi ly a 111 her in a shallow pit, and placed over it a OOVeriug of earth on the grounds of the Department of agricull ore at Washington. In bis report 52 of April 22, 1884, Professor Wiley gives au account of this experiment, from which the following information is taken : The canes wore placed in silo November 12, IS-:}. Numerous analyses of juices of canes similar to those preserved showed— Sucrose, about 9 per cent. Other sugars, about 3 per cent. Professor Wiley's analysis of cane from silo, January 14, 1834. Percentage of juice expressed G8. 9 Specific gravity, 8° B 1.057 Percentage of sucrose 8. 39 Percentage of other sugars 2. 30 Analysis of cane from silo, February 27, 1884. Percentage of juice expressed 73.07 Specific gravity 1. 057 Percentage of sucrose 7. 00 Percentage of other sugars 3. 13 Analysis of cane from silo, April 1, 1884. Percentage of juice expressed 73. 81 Specific gravity 1. 05 Percentage of sucrose 5. 89 Percentage of other sugars 3. 7*2 I was greatly interested in these results, which showed that the early amber cane can be kept during the greater part of the winter with very little depreciation of its content of sugar. In order to extend tin' experiment to other varieties, and to test tin1 possibility of keeping Kansas canes in silo, on October 15, 1884, I placed 1 ton of Link's hybrid and 1 ton of early orange in winrows between rows of stubble, and placed thereon a cov- ering of about 2 inches of sandy soil. Analyses were made on the day on which they were bnried, and subsequently, as shown in the following tables: Analyses of juices of canes kept in silo. Date. t-i Oct 1". Nov. tf> Nov. 2D I--'. Jan. 24 Oct. 16 Nov. 15 D ■ i ■ i Roraarks. KARLl "i; \ ( Produced by J. B. Keeloy, 2 miles southwest from Storl- ill!_M Cut yesterday afiern< , buried to-day molded, canes green— iuterior of oaues reddened to first node, top and bol om Appearance unchanged since L5tli instant Appearance unchanged since November L86 pounds cane gave 100 pounds juice 63] peroenton li i ii< l crusher , i. ink ti liviann ('mi and buried to day Leaves molded, canes green Interior of canes reddened to flrsl lc, top and bottom Appearance unchanged since I5tli Instant Sm f the canes shot* decomposition where thoj had lieell III lll-eil Tel, Small sample- analyzed 600 pout ! pounds juice 2 p< i baud ci i i'\ adding milk ol limo, boiling and skiromin j Above boiled to 17 B., hot, in open Bin pan a Glucose. Sucr. isc. 11.8 . 65 16 62 10.8 in. 7 1. 19 10.72 9, i:> 11.69 11.2 1.80 L0. 38 l. 16 LI. 81 10.2 lo. a 1.11 L49 18.02 12.26 1". 7 a w 12.98 tl ii 5 i i 11.40 11.5 LI. 40 LL22 34, in Other solids. L78 :;. 90 1.82 I. 65 5. 33 1.87 1.88 3. (15 2.91 t. 28 10. L'l 53 Samples of the canes taken from the silo on the 2Gth of December were sent to Professor Sweuson, superintendent of the Hutchinson Sugar Works. On the 4th of January, 1885, Professor Swenson reported the following as the results of his exami- nation of the Link's Hybrid cane: JUICE. Per cent. Sucrose 15. 25 Glucose 1.10 Other solids 3. 94 ENTIRE CANE. Insoluble solids 11. 72 Sucrose 13.73 Glucose l.'OO Other soluble solids 'J. -J.") Water 71.00 Total 100.00 Mr. J. C. Hart, superintendent of the farm of the Hutchinson Sugar Works, reported the following results of examinations of the Early Orange cane taken from the silo December 26 : Analysis of January 5, sucrose and glucose taken from diffusion juice. Vev cent. Water ('.?. 7 [nsolubles „*. .... L3.9 Sucrose coo „=... 14. 8 Glucose o ,. = . 1.6 Gums, etc 2. 0 Total Km. (» Analysis of January l,from expressed juice. Sucrose 1 1. 0 Glucose 3.2 (J uin, etc 4.8 On the '.uii of January canes were^again taken from the silo and submitted t<> Prof. M. A. Scovell, superintendent of the Sterling works, for analysis. The follow i> suits are taken from his report : link's eybrio. Amount of cams taken pounds. . 18 Amount of juice expressed do. . . . 3 .Juice „ per cent . . II - Density of juice, 10.6 B. Glucose per cent .. 5.53 Sucrose do — ORAKOl . Amount of canes taken pounds. . 19 Amount of juice, I pounds per cent . . 33} Density of juice, l".7 B. GluCOSe per cent Suclo.se do -.-I 54 Samples of the canes taken from the silo on January 9 were sent to the Hutchin- son Sugar Works, to the State Agricultural college, and to the State University for aual\ On January 1*2, Mr. J. C. Hart, of the Hutchinson works, reported the following average of two analyses, crushed juice. Orange Link's Hy- cane. brid cane. Brix, 22 . Brix, 21.7°. Water Insoluble soli* Glucose Sip rose Other .solids ., Per coit. Per cent. 69.90 68.20 10.50 12.90 3.45 3.20 12.34 12.19 3.81 1 3. 51 100. 00 100.00 Prof. Gr. 11. Fallyer, professor of chemistry in the State Agricultural college, made the following report of his analyses of these canes on January 14: tage ofjuici Specific gravity - Sucrose, per rent Glucose, per cenl Snmmarizinj as follows : the results of these analyses as to cane sugar, we find that they stand Date. Oct. 15 Nov. 15 Nov. 29 Dec 20 Jan. 4 Jan. 5 Jan. S Jan. it Jan. 12 Jan. II Jan. 24 Jan. 29 Variety of cane. Link's Hybrid, 11.21 per cent sugar. Link's Hj brid, 13.02 per cent. BUgar. Link's Hybrid, 12.26 per cent, sugar. Link's Hybrid, 12. 93 per cent, sagar Link's 1I.\ brid, 15. '-'5 per cent. BUgar. Link's Hybrid, '.'.7:; per cenl sugar Link's Hybrid, 12.19 per cent, sagar Link's Hybrid, 9.06 per cent, sugar Link's Hj brid, 11.40 per cent, sagar Variety of cane. Orange, 15.62 per cent. BUgar Orange, 10.72 per cent. BUgar Orange, '.< 45 per cent, augar Orange, 11. 6U per cent sugar Name of analyst. Orange, 1 L8 per ( mi. sugar Orange, 14.0 pet « . nt. BUgar i Grange, 8.84 per cent sugar . < »i ange, L2.34 per cent. BUgar ( (range, 9.82 per cent. BUgar Orange, 10.85 per cent. BUgar Cow gill, Cowgill. CowgilL <'ow gill. Swenaon. Hart. Hart. ScorelL Hart. Pailyer. Cowgill. Cowgill. It should be remarked that the samples taken from the silo, January 9, were those which had beenmosl exposed to the action of the sun and wind on account of t be frequent opening of the sil<>. This may account for the great depreciation shown by the analysis of I hese samples. The j nice obtained on January 24 from the Early Orange cane was defecated with milk of lime, boiled, skimmed, and settled, and reduced to Bemi-sirup, 1? B., hot, in the QSOal way in <>]>en fire pan. Ii was then taken into a small vac nn in pan and boiled to nearly the crystallizing point by Mr. Frank Btrobaok, an experienced sugar-boiler, It was then drawn off and set away in a warm place, and is crystallizing into a line melada. The juice obtained on January 29 from the Link's Sybrid cane was treated in a manner precisely similar to that above described for the Barlj Orange, except that it was " boiled to grain " in the vacuum pan i>> Mr. Btrobaok. This was effected as fol- 55 lows: Ten quarts of serai-sirup were first introduced, and boiled in vacuo to the crystallizing density. A pint of cold serai-sirup was then added, and the contents of the pan again reduced to the crystallizing density. The process of adding a pint of semi-sirup and reducing to the crystallizing density was repeated until the boiling was complete. After a few of these additions had been made, a slight tur- bidity of the sirup was observed. On placing the sirup now under a microscope and examining it !>y transmitted light, the turbidity was seen to result from countless microscopic crystals of sugar. The subsequent additions of semi-sirup fed these minute crystals, and they continued to grow in size as long as the operation was con- tinned. It is well known to sugar-boilers that it is impossible to crystallize in the pan the sugar from very poor juices. The success, therefore, of this las! experiment abun- dantly verities the results of the chemical analysis, which showed that this Link's Hybrid cane contained on the 29th of January very nearly the same percentage of sugar as when put away on the 15th of October. Mr. Stroback states that tb< tallization was as easily produced as at any time during the working season of 1884. It is therefore fully established that some varieties of sorghum cane can be pre- served in an inexpensive way without impairment of the sugar until the hist of .Ian- nary. It is desirable that the experiment be extended to other of the late varieties, notably the Honduras, which yields 15 tons to 30 tons per acre, but does not perfect its sugar during the regular fall working season. CENTRAL AND AUXILIARY FACTORIES— SIZE OF FACTORIES. The complete sugar factory is an expensive establishment, and while most of the work of operating it can be performed by laboring men of ordinary intelligence, there will be required in each of such factories, whether large or small, at least two men whose attainments will com- mand liberal compensation. These are the chemist, or the superintend- ent with a cheaper chemist for an assistant, and the sugar-boiler. Good business management is of course also necessary to Buccess. The chemist and the sugar-boiler can preside over a huge as well as over a small factory. Moreover, many of the labors of the factory can be performed with no fewer men in a small than in a large factory. It will therefore be cheaper to work a given amount of cane and to turn out a given amount of product in large than in small factories. The limit, however, beyond which experience so far does not warrant manufact- urers to go is believed to be at a capacity of about 270 tons ol cleaned cane per day. In order to use to the best advantage the mm vices of tin- specialists of the business, it has been proposed to establish ;it convenient places auxiliary factories which shall carry the processes bo far as i<> prepare simp for the Strike pan. This sirup will be stored in suitable tanks or cisterns and worked for sugar after the close of the season foi hand- ling cane. In this way the working BeasOD U>v the central factory may be prolonged to occupy almost the entire year. The auxiliary factories will cost about half or two-thirds as niiieh as the complete factory, cajiabie of taking care of the same amount of cane. A.s thus arranged, the central factory will, in addition to its own regular season's work, take care Of the sirup from two or three of these simp factories* 56 It will doubtless be found economical to provide the central factory with sugar apparatus of two or three times the capacity required to lake care of its own sirup, thereby increasing the number of auxiliaries which may be made dependent upon it. It must not be inferred from what is here said that the sugar factory can make sugar from ordinary sorghum molasses. The auxiliaries will necessarily be under the super- vision of the central factory, and the value of its sirups will depend upon the proper execution of the processes of manufacture. The sirups from the auxiliaries may be transported to the central factory in tank ears or by pipe lines. HOW FAR MAY CANE BE HAULED? The price paid for cane delivered at the sugar factory has heretofore been $2 per ton. It needs only to be stated that long hauls by wagon would cost too much to leave any profit to the farmer at this price. It is doubtful whether the farmer who lives more than 3 miles from the factory can afford to raise cane unless he can transport it most of the way by rail. Again, the factory will easily obtain all it can work from farmers whose distance does not exceed 2 miles, and will prefer to patronize these on account of the greater regularity with which they can deliver their crops, as well as the greater facility with which the supervision of the factory may be extended. Farmers living on a line of railroad may be able to ship their cane on such favorable terms as to avail themselves of the market at the factory. In Cuba and in some parts of Louisiana, light railroads are constructed where the distance is too great for hauling on ordinary roads. On these a team hauls about 13 tons at a load. The system of central and auxiliary factories seems, however, to offer the best solution tor the problem of distance. CAN THE FARMER MAKE HIS OWN SUGAR FROM SORGHUM? Several experimenters bave sought to answer this question in a prac- tical way. The developments of the last few years have clearly estab- lished the fact that the cane crusher has had its day. Hereafter the juice will be extracted by the process of diffusion, whereby at least double the yield possible with crushers is obtained, al the same* time giving a juice which may be readily treated. Mr. II. A. Hughes, of Rio Grande, N. J., has been experimenting with a small diffusion battery, and has this seas >n worked 80acresof sorghum with a battery Whose capacity 18 25 tons per day. I have not received Mr. Hughes' official report, but the results claimed are fully as favor- able as those obtained at Fori Scott. His report will be looked for with interest. Messrs. I tensmore Brothers, of Red Wing. Minn., had an evaporating apparatus at Fori Scott during a pari of the present season, and made 57 small amounts of sugar from the diffusion juice of the factory. They have furnished the following report, which will be of interest to those studying this part of the subject: DEN8MORE8' REPORT. The John F. Porter steam evaporator deserves special notice in this report. It can be safely and economically employed by every manufacturer of sorghum sirup and sugar. The line of operation employed in this evaporator is that of a shallow body of juice having a continuous How forward among and over the pipes of steam-heated coils while being purified and concentrated. The evaporator is composed of two pans or compartments, each of which is pro- vided with a coil of copper pipe. By reason of a peculiar but simple method of ap- plying steam to these coils, the development and throwing out of scum and imparities is begun as soon as the juice enters the evaporator, and is kept up until the jnice is thoroughly purged of all impurity. Tin? scum collects along one side of each pan, and within an average distance of 8 inches from the point where it was developed, and is removed from the pan as required by a simple and effective arrangement of skimmers. While purification has been in progress the juice has been concentrated to a heavy semi-sirup, which is then finished to the desired density. The line of operation is continuous and uninterrupted, the juice being admitted to and the finished product escaping from the evaporator in a continuous stream. During the month of September last one of the largest of these evaporators was set up and operated at the Parkinson Sugar Works, Fort Scott, Kans., by the manufact- urers for the purpose of investigating the adaptation of the principle therein em- ployed to the manufacture of sugar, and with special inquiry as to the percent, or amount of inversion of sugar which it might cause. four runs or tests were made with this question in view, and the results— given in ratio of glucose to sucrose — were as follows: Test No. 1.— Juice 1 of glucose to 3.24 of sucrose. Finished product 1 u 3.05 " Test No. 2.— Juice 1 " 3.29 Finished product 1 " ::.v>7 •* Test No. 3. — Juice I " •'..:!."» " 1'inished product 1 " 3.36 " Test No. 4.— Juice 1 " 3.60 " Finished product 1 " u Deductions from these results show as follows: in the first test, a loss by inversion of a little over 1 per cent. : in tin- second and third tests there was practically no loss, and in the fourth test a lo^s of less than a third of 1 per cent. The average l"vs on the four testa was Less than three-eighths of l per cent. Practically, this process causes no inversion of the Bucrose of the juii To the wants of the simp manufacturer, the Porter evaporator is fully adapted in every essential and particular necessary to success. It works rapidly and produces a sirup «»f bright color ami best quality. It is easily operated, and the line of opera- tion is wholly within the control of the operator, whether working for sirup or sugar. Mr. A. A. Denton made Borne experiments in air evaporation at the Sterling Sirup Works, and lias famished the following report of bis apparatus and operations : DEMI on's R] pob i. The stei ling Sirup Works have made careful testa of two forms of air ei aporat ing apparatus io manufacturing sirup tins season, and believe the results are of unpor< 58 tance to the cane industry, as they show that a cheap and easily-managed apparatus for evaporating at a Low temperature, suited to the use of thousands of small facto- ries, may be found in machines for drying or evaporating semi-sirup by hot air : and the method seems peculiarly adapted to the dry air of the Western States and Terri- tories. The first form of apparatus wo used consisted of a liquid-carrier, whieh had 329 square feet of surface, inclosed in a box or case 3 feet wide by 2 feet, and 14 feet high, placed upon a square tank which held 300 gallons of sirup. The liquid-carrier passed continuously through the sirup in the tank, and its 322 square feet of surface were kept uniformly wet with sirup in thin films by the adhesion of sirup to the surfaces. A fair forced a blast of air through all the surfaces of the liquid-carrier. Hot sirup from the finishing pan was ruu into the tank, and was immediately spread over the 322 square feet of surface on the liquid-carrier by the motion of the liq aid- carrier, where it came in contact with the current of air. The result was that con- siderable water escaped from the hot sirup in the form of steam, instead of condens- ing in the sirup, as it does when hot sirup is cooled in the ordinary way. and this increased the density of the sirup. The blast of air also absorbed and carried off con- siderable water from the sirup, and the density of the sirup was thus increased three or four degrees by the Baumd saccharometer. This was equivalent to boiling the sirup to greater density without the injury caused by the excessive heat necessary in boiling heavy sirup. The sooner sirup is removed from the heat of the finishing pan the better it is, and the sooner hot sirup is cooled the better it is, for finished sirup is hot enough to be injured by the heat it contains after it has left the finishing pan. The output of the Sterling Sirup Works is 2 to 3 barrels per hour, and in previous years we have had trouble aud loss in cooling that quantity of sirup in steady day and night runs. The above-described apparatus cools hot sirup in large quantities, and also increases its density quickly and perfectly. It reduced the temperature of 100 gallons of boiling sirup from 236 degrees to 110 degrees in five minutes. In boiling sirup we usually boil until the sirup has a density while hot of 3.") to 3(5 degrees, as tested by the Baume* saccharometer, but after testing this apparatus we boiled only to 30 degrees, and then reduced it to the proper density by leaving it in this apparatus exposed to the blast of air until it becomes ;is dense as if it had been boiled to 36 degrees and had then been cooled in the ordinary way. We regard it as an established fact, that sirup at 30 Baume* can be evaporated on large surfaces by air to any density required, and also that the color and flavor of the sirup are bet ter than when exposed longer to the high heat of the finishing pan. By allowing the sirup to remain for some time in this apparatus the sirup was evaporated or dried by the current of air to such density that it was impossible to draw the sirup from the tank through a 2-iuoh outlet until it had been diluted. All the sirup made this sea- son from Too acres of cane was cooled ready to barrel and was finished from densities varying from 30 Baume' to :;t; Banine* by air evaporation in this apparatus. We next built an apparatus on the same plan as the above-described apparatus, except that it had no fan to cause a current of air ; the current of air was caused by heating the air in a furnace, as is done in hot-air fruit evaporators. 1 lot air evaporates water much more rapidly than cold air, and in operating on thin or dilute sweet Liquids it is nec- essary to heat the aii' above the fermenting point— above the point where air has chemical action on the liquid. This is shown by drying fruit in air at summer tem- perature ; the product is t he inferior sun-dried fruit, because the air has acted chem- ically on t he saccharine Liquid in the fruit; but when fruit is dried i»\ hot sir, as in the modern fi ni t -e\ apoi aim s, the product is perfect, because hot air has no chemical act ion on I lie sweet liquid in t he fruit. This hot-air apparatus had 273 square feet of Surface covered with semi sir up in thin films, and exposed to a current of hoi air which absorbed and carried off t he water of t he sirup. In this a p pa rat us cane juice which bad been boiled until the scum was white and free from green color was evaporated 59 to heavy sirup by hot air. The caue juice was boiled to a density of from 20 to 25 degrees Baunie, according to the quality of the juice, and as was necessary to clarify the juice, aud only boiled as long as it was necessary to skim the boiling juice. It was then dried, or evaporated by hot air, at a temperature of 130 to 140 degrees, until it became dense sirup. It is probable that it would have been better to have had a temperature of 140 to 180 degrees, which is the best temperature for evaporating fruit by hot air, and which is the usual temperature in vacuum-pan boiling. In the cold- air apparatus it was necessary to boil the juice until it had such density that air at summer temperature would not act chemically upon the sirup or ferment it. and then finish the evaporation by air at ordinary temperature. In the hot-air apparatus it was necessary to boil the juice only long enough to clarify it, and then finish the evaporation by air heated above the point of chemical action or fermentation. To illustrate this point: Ordinary sirup may be exposed to air at summer temperature without change or fermentation, while a dilute sweet liquid exposed to air at summer temperature would be chemically changed : but a dilute sweet liquid exposed to air heated to 150 degrees, which is the scalding-point, would not ferment— it would evaporate to sirup. This hot-air apparatus had -J7;5 square feet of surface, inclosed in a box 3 by 2 feet and (J feet high. At a temperature of 140 degrees it evaporated 1 pound of water per hour from each square foot of surface — that is, it evaporated 273 pounds of w ater per hour at 140 degrees. A gallon of cane juice weighs 8.8 pounds. Reducing 7 gal- lons of cane juice, or Gl.G pounds of juice, to 1 gallon of heavy sirup at sugar density weighing 13 pounds to the gallon, requires the evaporation of 48.6 pounds of water for each gallon of sirup. Where the evaporation from cane juice to heavy sirup is entirely performed by hot air. the hot-air apparatus gives •"»' gallons of sirup, weigh- ing 13 pounds to the gallon, per hour, as the product of the evaporation from 273 square feel of surface in a current of air at 140 degrees. When cane juice is boiled to a? density of 20 to 25 degrees Banme* in order to clarify it, and the hot-air apparatus is only required to finish the evaporation, it produces from Ifl to 15 gallons of heavy sirup per hour, for the greater part of t he evaporation has been performed by boiling. The hot-air apparatus above described is of a size and capacity suited to a two- horse cane-mill. It would finish the semi-sirup produced b\ such a mill to heavy Kirup, using a temperature of 140 degrees instead of 240 degrees, which is required in finishing heavy sirup by boiling. 'the principle of the air-evapoi a! ing apparatus i-. that evaporation is as rapid from large surfaces exposed to air at comparatively low temperature as from small surfaces intensely heated, ami that in evaporating dilute sweet liquids it is necessary to heat the air above the point of chemical action upon the liquid. Solid substances have large qnantit ies <>l water removed from them by exposing Large surfaces to the e\ apo- rating action of the air. A bushel of apples weighing 50 pounds is- reduced by hot air to (I pounds of perfect product. The same can be done with Liquids under similar conditions. As a result of these experiments we intend to build hot-air apparatus enough to reduce all our semi-sirup to sirup by hoi air next season. If the question be asked, u Can the farmer profitably make his own sugar !" i. ,.. make sugar for his OWI1 use in a small way, I apprehend that the answer should be much the same as would he given to the ques- tion, uOan the farmer profitably make his own woolen goods or his own Hour \n I!', indeed. I have succeeded in the preceding pages in eon\ r\ - in^ an adequate ideaof what sugar-making is, I apprehend that my readers will omit to ask the questions about manufacturing in a very small way. The tanner who is so fortunate as to In- near a SUgar factory can do much better than to erect and try to operate BUgar machinery on a 60 small scale. An acre of good sorghum delivered at the factory will pay for a barrel of nice nearly-white sugar. The farmer who is not so for tunately situated will probably try to induce some company to erect a factory near him, or will join with his neighbors in forming a company for the purpose of building a factory as soon as the skilled labor neces- sary for its operation can be secured, thereby providing not only his own sugar from his own soil, but at the same time a sure and steady market for the most certain and profitable crop he can raise. SUGAR REFINERIES. The sugar produced by the processes herein described is light, but not white, in color. Its sweetening power is not surpassed by any raw sugar, and its taste is very agreeable. The demand of the age is, how- ever, for the best possible goods, and sorghum sugar must be refined to the purest whiteness, and made into the various conditions demanded by the market. To do this requires the work of the sugar refinery. The largest of the central factories soon to be erected will doubtless be provided with refining facilities, and when located at convenient shipping centers will be developed into large refineries as rapidly as the raw sugar can be obtained to give them work. CONCLUSION. There seems to be no doubt but that there is here developed an in- dustry of vast importance to our State and nation. For the year end- ing Juue 30, 1886, there was consumed in the United States foreign grown and manufactured sugar amounting to 2,689,881,765 pounds.* If two thousand new sugar factories were at onee erected, and each should produce an annual product of one and a quarter million pounds of sugar, they would not supply the place of the sugars now imported. The annual consumption of sugar per capita in the [Jutted States is about 56 pounds. The population of Kansas may be taken as L, 500,000. These people consume each year oil x L ,500,000 = 84,000,000 pounds of sugar. It will be safe t> say that the annual average product of the factories will not exceed 1,500,000 pounds, so that fifty-six factories will be required to supply the sugar consumed by the present population of Kansas, and for which they pay over $5,000,000 annually. Process S whereby sugar can be made at a profit from sorghum have been worked out. These are far from perfect, but present develop- ments give promise of others in the near future, and will enable US to produce our own sugar on our sod, with the labor of our people. Those who invest in the new industry will be cautious about experimenting with unknown conditions. Kansas is therefore likely to lead in the development, and become the first Northern sugar State. 'Address of Dr. II. W. Wiley before the Chemical Society, December 9, L886. LETTERS PATENT CHANTED TO M. SWENSON. I'm ted States Department of Agriculture, Commissioner's Office, Washington, D. C, December 10, 1SS7. Sir: In response to the resolution of the Senate of the 7th instant, directing me to inform the Senate whether any person in tin* employ of this Department has applied for or obtained a patent on any process connected with certain experiments in the manufacture of sugar from sorghum, conducted under the auspices of the Government, I have the honor to make the following statement of facts: For the tiscal year 18S0-787 Congress made an appropriation of *[U,000 for ''continuing and concluding experiments in the manufacture of sngar by the diffusion and saturation process, from sorghum and sugar-cane.71 By virtue of this appropriation the Commissioner appointed, under date of duly 19, 1886, -Mr. Magnus Swenson "an agent of this Department to superintend, under the direction of the chemist, the experiments in the manufacture of sugar from sorghum at Fort Scott, Ivans. "' In his report to me, under date of December 21, 1886, Professor Wi- ley, the cbief chemist of this Department, in detailing the experiments above alluded to, stated that an acidity existed in the diffusion bath, causing a conversion of a portion of sucrose (sugar) into glucose, and that several experiments had been made to correct this acidity. Among those experiments was one in which he added u freshly precipitated car- bonate of lime to the extraction bottle," a method which he states was suggested by Professor Swenson. At the clOSC Of these expel inieUts. November L5, L886, Mr. Swenson's service ceased. On April 27, L887, lie was again appointed "superintendent of sugar experiments at Fort Sott. Kans.,"' which position in* dow holds. On October 21, 1887, I was informed that Professor 3wen80n wis seeking a patent for the process which he had suggested afl above stated, and while in the line of his duty ami which had been tried in a public experiment with the people's money and for the benefit of the country. On that date 1 tiled with the Commissioner of Patents mv protest against any action on the part <>f his office b\ which ProfeSSOl >n, as an individ ual, should reap the benefit of this experiment in answer to that Letter 1 received a coimnuuicat ion from t he ( 'ommis^iom-r ^\' Patents, 61 62 under date of October 2ti, stating that Professor S wen son bad been al- lowed letters patent on the process, under date of October 11, 18S7. In that patent the following claims were allowed to Professor Swenson : (1) As an improvement in the diffusion process of making sugar, the mode herein described of preventing the invertive action of the organic acids in the cane chips upon the sugar during the process of extraction, said mode consisting in adding to the diffusion bath a carbonate of the alkaline earths, substantially as set forth. (*2) As an improvement in the diffusion process of making sugar, the mode herein described of preventing the invertive action of the organic acids in the cane chips upon the sugar during the process of extraction, said mode consisting in adding to the diffusion bath calcium carbonate, substantially as set forth. The application for this patent was filed on December 29, 1S8G, after Professor Sweuson's employment by the Government had ceased, but the nature of the claims is so closely allied to the experiment made with carbonate of lime, heretofore alluded to, that it seems to leave no doubt that Professor Swenson intended to cover in his patent the sug- gestion which he made in the line of his duty, which was adopted during his employment, and which amounted only to an improvement in a process which had been conceived, planned, and was then being perfected by the Government of the United States. I deem it proper to add that I have had an exhaustive search made of judicial decisions and legal opinions bearing upon the validity of a patent granted under these circumstances, and that I have become con- vinced that the state of the art, and the fact of Mr. Sweuson's appoint- ment and employment by this Department, will affect the validity of his claim, and that I have therefore called the attention of the Attorney- General to all the facts in the case and suggested to him the institution of a suit looking to a perpetual injunction to restrain Professor Swenson from making any use of this patent. As bearing upon this case, I beg respectfully to inclose, as an appen- dix to this communication, certain citations and memoranda for the in- formation of the Senate, and in this connection 1 beg also to recommend such immediate action on the part of the legislative branch of the Gov- ernment as will enable the Attorney* ieneial, il'he has not now sufficient authority, to institute a suit looking to the cancellation of the patent in question. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Norman J. Colman, Commissioner of Agriculture, lion. John J. Ingalls, President pro tempore United States Senate* 63 ICopy of statement of facts submitted to the Attorney-General for his information by the Commis- sioner of Agriculture.] Letters Patent, No. 371528, issued to Magnus Sweuson. Manufacture of sugar. STATEMENT OF FACTS. The Department of Agriculture directed its attention to the manufacture of sugar from maize and sorghum cane in the year 1877, and since that time has continuously been engaged in investigations and experiments for the purpose of discovering a pro- cess that would extract the sugar from these canes in a commercially successful man- ner. These experiments have been carried on by direct authorization of Congress. The first session of the Forty-seventh Congress appropriated, " For experiments in the manufacture of sugar from sorghum, beets, and other sugar-producing plants, twenty five thousand dollars." (Stat. L., vol. 22, p. 91.) The same Congress at its second session appropriated $16,000 (vol. 22, p. 410) ; the Forty-eighth Congress at its first session appropriated $50,000 (vol. 23, p. 38), and at its second session, 840,000 (vol. 23, p. 3">4) for the same purpose. In 1883 the chemist of the Department conceived the idea of adapting the "diffusion process," success- fully used in Europe in the manufacture of beet sugar, to the extraction of sugar from sorghum and maize cane. The results of the experiments carried on in this di- rection during the year 1883 are continued in special Bulletins Nos. 2 and 3, issued by the Chemical Division of the Department in l?i84. Further investigations were made during the year 18--4, and a chemist from the Chemical Division was sent to Europe to study the "diffusion process" as practiced there and the machinery used in its application. The results of the work for this year are fully. set out in Bulletin No. 5. Bulletin No. 6 contains a record of the work for the year 18-",. In the fall of 1885 Professor Wiley, chemist of the Department, was directed to proceed to Europe to study the "diffusion process." Bulletin No. 8 gives the result of his visit there and conclusions reached as to the proper adaptation of process and machinery to manufacture sugar in this country from sorghum oane by the "diffusion process." Asa result of the investigations and experiments brought down to 1880, this De- partment felt convinced that it had reached a satisfactory solution of sugar manu- facture, as applied to sorghum, and that it had secured a successful method and devised suitable machinery to establish this work as .Mill up to the average of the season in parity. The cane was worked after tins date at intervals in the diffusion battery until November 22. The cam" brought in at this time was frozen solidly, but the juice was in good condition. Warm weather ha\ ing intervened from the 22d to the 26th the cane was Bampled ami tested on November 26 with the intention of making a run for sugar 70 on December 1. Other matters having interfered this was not carried ont. There is not the slightest doubt that good sugar crystals could have been obtained until December 1. This cane has at last been weakened by the unusually severe weather during the past week. It is falling down badly and is only fit for sirup on this date, December 7. The sugar per acre could have been increased fully 23 per cent, on this season's work by good extraction. It must not be overlooked that the raw sugar made this season would have to be reduced from 20 to 25 per cent, in order to make it chemically pure. Another source of loss to which I desire to call your attention is in the harvesting of the seed. The seed tops are cut off, spread on the fields to dry, stacked up, and afterwards thrashed. By this method we rarely obtain more than 1J bushels of seed from a ton of field cane. There is a constant loss in the field during the drying by the seed shell- ing out and the ravaging of birds. Field mice and rats also attack the stacks. Samples of seed tops carefully saved from these same fields show an average yield, on well developed canes, of 3 bushels per ton. If this seed could be saved it would be of sufficient value to pay the coal bill for working up the crop in this place. In making the above statements I wish it to be distinctly understood that neither time nor expense was spared in order to make these rec- ords accurate; the house being frequently delayed in order that the records might be secured. I believe that a ton of field cane is too uncertain a factor to be used as a standard for calculation, as it varies considerably in wet and dry weather. Wagons containing 3,000 pounds of cane, as it comes from the field, will increase to 3,400 pounds and more by being rained on. There is a variation in the weight of the cane before and alter frost; also in the percentage of leaves of the large and small canes. Tor these reasons it is better to use clean chips prepared for the battery or an acre of ground. It might be worth while to state that this sugar house, with slight alteration, could be made to work 25 tons per day, having frequently worked at this rate from six to eight hours. Believing thai sorghum-sugar manufacture is to be an established in- dustry and that reports Of this nature will have an attraction for the general public, I have written in this simple style and tried to avoid technicalities. Those who wish the details F refer to the reports of your chemists, Messrs. Broadbent and Edson, who, I believe, have faithfully recorded the workings of the house; also to the report of the experi- mental station of New Jersey, soon to be issued. Respectfully, 11. A. Hug m:s, Superintendent. lion. Norman J. ( Jolm Commissioner of Agriculture) Washington^ />. 0* 71 SUMMARY OF CHEMICAL WORK AT RIO GRAXDE. [Abstract of report of Hubert Edson.] The manufacturing season at Rio Grande commenced September 5 and closed No- vember 8. The analyses of juices were begun September 8 and continued throughout the season. On October 15 there fell a heavy frost, one of the earliest known in Rio Grande, which completely killed all the leaves on the cane and stopped the growth of all the unripe (ields. The late orange was the only variety which was not seriously in- jured by the frost and the cold weather following it. This hardy cane, although the frost touched it before it was matured, held its sucrose to the end of the season, even notwishstandiug two slight freezes. It will be noticed from Table III that the extraction of sugar by the battery was very poor. This arose from improper management of the battery by the men em- ployed in the diffusion room, much sugar being thrown out with the exhausted chips from this cause. EXPERIMENTS IX CRYSTALLIZING SUGARS. All the sugars as first run from the centrifugal were full of "smear," aud after the regular season had closed experiments were made as to the advisability of re-crystal- lizing the sngar, but it was found that the loss in weight was too great to make it profitable, only 8,329 pounds of re-crystallized sugars being obtained from nearly double that amount of smear sugar. In Table VIII are found the analyses of the re-crystallized sugars. On November 19 and 22 experiments were made with the diffusion battery to see if it was possible to obtain a better extraction than the season's work had given. An extra eell was made and placed outside the- battery. Then instead of emptying one cell of diffusion j nice at a time the two heaviest juices were drawn into the out- side cell. By drawing oil' two cells at a time two baskets of fresh chips could be im- mersed each time in the outside cell, and the diffusion juice be brought up within lJ Brix of the mill juice, and at the Bame time an excellent extraction obtained. Both the days in which these experiments were made were very cold. This, of course, made it difficult to keep the battery at a sufficiently high temperature for a proper diffusion. In the appended table the degree Brix. is all that is given, as the juices were not used : Chip juice. Diffusion juice. Exhausted chipjuioe. B i i x : 13.42 15.18 14.65 18. :>j 1.30 1 ^8 .88 These experiments were conducted by Mr. Bnghes and l>r. Neale, chemist of the New Jenej experimental slation. The degrees Bril were taken by Dr. Neale and myself. impie of chip juice was polarized ami found to contain 8.98 per oent. suaroMi with a purity of 60 9 n Results of analyses. Table 1. — Analysts of juice from fresh chips. Number of analyses Gl Per cent. Mean sucrose 8. 98 Mean glucose 3. 24 Mean total solids (by spindle) 14. 02 Sucrose : Maximum 12. 28 Minimum 4. 71 Glucose : Maximum 4. 4."> Minimum 2.07 Total solids : Maximum 17. 80 Minimum 10. 45 Table 2. — Analyses of diffusion juices. Number of analyses 63 Per cent. Mean sucrose 0. 93 Mean glucose 2. 86 Mean total solids (spindle) 11. 18 Sucrose: Maximum 10.02 Minimum 3.89 Glucose : Maximum 3.97 Minimum 1.32 Total solids: Maximum 14.40 Minimum 8. 38 Table 3.— Sirup*. Number of analyses 55 Per cent. Mean sue rose L8.68 Mean glucose 8.67 Mean total solids (spindle) 32. 40 Sucrose : Maximum 25.26 Minimum 10.78 Glucose : Maximum lf>. 70 Minimum 'A.>\ Total solids : Maximum 43. l(i Minimum 19.88 Table I. - ExhamUd chips. Number of analyses 58 Percent. Mean sucrose 2. 16 Meao glucose W M»a' total solids (Npindlc) 4. 03 73 Table A.— Exhausted chips— Continued. Sucrose : Per cent. Maximum 4. 23 Minimum 81 Glucose : Maximum 1.62 Minimum 30 Total solids : Maximum 6. 64 Minimum 1-33 Table 5. — Masse cuiies. Number of analyses 6 Per cent. Mean sucrose ;").">. TtJ Mean glucose .. 23. 44 Mean water 18. 50 Mean ash 4. 44 Table 6.— Raw sugars. Number of analyses 14 Per cent. Mean sucrose 73.80 Mean glucose 13.63 Mean water 5. 89 Mean ash 2.56 Table 7. — Molasses. Number of analyses 14 Per cent. Mian sucrose 35. 48 Mean glucose 32. 20 Mean water 34, 7 -J Mean ash , ;.. L5 Table 8. — Re-crystallized sugars. Number of analyses 9 I*. i ceut. Mean .sucrose 90, ?:> Mean gltlOOSe Mean water 1. 1'.) Mean ash 71 te. — The analyses of" masse ot m and molasses are only partial. The complete analyses will be given Id Balletic 18. ESTIMATE - "i 0OS1 OP BUGAB l LOTOBLES MADE BY MB. H. A. lirciHES. -MAIL ci-.N 1 K VI. -I GAB M« >U8E. Coti and .sninmunj of mm hint >■;/. One vacuum-pan, I feel |850. 00 One vacuum-pump Thirty sugar-wagons, at $14 : Two Weston centrifugals, complete with mixer, at f850 1. : Four banks, water, sirup, dumps, and extra, at | :."> 1 One ;.ii horse-power boiler 1 one engine, i"> horse-power Pipe-fittings Two boiler feed-pom] 180.00 One water-pomp Two sirup-pumps, at $9 ; 74 Cost and summary of machinery — Continued. Extra work, machinist two months ami labor $520.00 Buildings 3,000.00 Freights, lights and extras 250. 00 Total 9,000.00 Capacity of house per day. Six wagons on 1,080 gallons molasses worked into masse cuite for an aver- age, say 4 pounds sugar to a gallon, or pounds.. 4, 320 And 45 per cent, sirup gallons.. 488 For 260 days, from September 1 to July 1 pounds.. 1,123,200 For 260 days, from September 1 to July 1 gallons.. 126,880 Crew, cost of manning, and cost per gallon. Day shift: Per day. One fireman $1.50 One centrifugal 1. 50 One sirup and coopering 2. 50 One sugar boiler 3. 00 Night shift : One fireman 1. 50 One pan man 1. 50 11.50 Three tons soft coal, at $2.50 7.50 19.00 Cost per gallon 1. 77 Twenty-five gallons for 1 ton field cane cents.. 444; SMALL AUXILIARY PLANTATION HOUSE. One diffusion battery, 50 to 75 tons, complete $5, 600. 00 Cutting and cleaning apparatus 600.00 One double effect 2,500.00 Two juice-pumps, at $90 180.00 Seven small tanks 100.00 One large tank 25.00 Engine, 8 horse-power 200. 00 Boilers, 100 horse-power 1, 000. 00 Two boiler feed-pumps, at $125 250.00 One water-pump 250. 00 One hot-water pump 125. 00 Pipe-fittings ' 500. 00 Building one-story shed 1,000.00 Labor, freight, and incidentals 800.00 Total 13,330,00 Capacity per tiny. Lowest estimate, 5" tons field oane; 25 gallons molasses, 45 to 66 percent, test fox each ton Held cane woikr.l; 25 gallons for eaeb ton X 50 1,850 per day for eighty days 100,000 gallons, or 1 acres of ordinary cane per acre for each da\ ; or 320 acres asoD of eighty days. Three snob plants vonld supply 300,000 gallons In ■ working season. 75 Crew, cost of manufacture, and cost per ton. One man throwing caue on carrier $1. 25 One man on seed topper 1. 25 One man filling baskets 1. 25 One man on eleventh cell 1. 25 One man hanging on baskets 1. 25 One man center 1. 25 One man bagasse 1. 25 One man double effect 1. 50 One man firing 1. 50 One man driving away seed and leaves 1.25 Total 10 men 13.00 One horse on cart 1. 00 14.00X 2 = $28.00 Labor 28.00 Coal, 5 tons, at §2.50 12.50 40.50 Or 80.1 cents per ton for labor, etc. RECAPITULATION. Capital invested, small central house f9, 000 Capital invested, three small auxiliaries, $13,300 39,990 Total 43, 990 Tons. Amount of cane worked, 150 tons for eighty days 12,000 Product. 12,000 tons, yielding 25 gallons molasses each gallons.. 300,000 300,000 gallons molasses, yielding 4 pounds sugar each pounds.. 1, 200, 000 And 45 per cent, molasses gallons.. 1' 1,200,000 pound*, at 1 cents §4d, 000 135,000 gallons, at 20 cents 87,000 18,000 bushels Beed, at 40 cents Total Co8i of production. Cents. Auxiliary boose, per ton ~o.ni Central house, per ton II. 25 124.26 I per ton 30.00 154. 26 X 12, 000 s $18, 511 Farmers' half) -ii.iou oi 3.43 per ton; the company*! half, |4 1,100, leas $18,511 69 for inter* it, insurance, superintendence, eto. In working 1,000 tons a day th< re should be ten it1" to 175 too batteries and ■ large central bonse. Auxiliary booses of this pizs would cost complete »bo and the central bouse would cost without bone bia rouldalsobea corresponding reduction in working exp< Paet III. EXPERIMENTS AT LAWRENCE, LA. The Department of Agriculture having determined to continue the experiments in the manufacture of sugar by diffusion in Louisiana, Mr. E. C. Barthelemy, of Xew Orleans, was appointed general superin- tendent of the work January 27, 1887. Following is a copy of the order assigning him to this duty: January 27, 1887. E. C. Barthelemy, of Louisiana, is hereby appointed general superintendent of the diffusion experiments to be conducted in Louisiana by this Department. Norman J. Colman. Commissioner. The following instructions were sent with the order to Mr. Barthe- lemy: January 27, 1887. Dear Sir : I inclose you herewith your formal appointment as general superin- tendent of the experiments in diffusion which are to be made in Louisiana next autumn. At present your instructions will be of a simple nature. The contract for the building of the machinery has been awarded to the Cohvell Iron Works of New York, the lowest responsible homo bidders. This company has also taken the contract of erecting the battery in Louisiana and patting it in order foi l( of all you will consult with prominent sugar planters and others intei in the matter in respect of the best place for locating this experimental machinery. Keep iu view that good donble-effeot and strike pans and convenient crystallizing rooms, etc., iiiiim lie had. I expect to \ :-it Louisiana early in March, and by that time you will have secured such information as will enable me to decide upon the location at once. Immediately thereafter the machinery and building material now at tlie "Her- mitage" plantation will be transferred to the new quarters, and then the apparatus now at Fori Scott, which is to be used in Louisiana, will be secured. The detail*, of this work I will send you later, a- soon a- you enter upon the performance of your duties, February l, you will proceed to Judge Emil Boat's plantation and make a careful stud; of the machinery on hand, and submit to me, at your eailiest possible convenience, ■ lull report thereon, and add thereto your own judgment concerning the suitability of the place tor the proposed e\pei intents. It lamyearneal urish that all persons interested in tin- success of the sugar indus- try should heartily co-operate Ln this work. Wry respect fully, .MAN .1. COl M \N. •ii> r, E. C. Bam m u my. .\< La. 78 On February 18, 1887, the following additional instructions were sent to Mr. Barthelemy: First of all, however, I desire to secure a comparative test of diffusion with mill- ing. When all is in readiness for work, only a few days will bo required to make this test, and therefore it would not interfere very much with the regular milling work. I have contracted for a 12-cell circular battery, to be built on the plan for the Sangerhausen apparatus. All the plans and specifications for the new battery have been purchased by the contractors (the Col well Iron Works of New York) from the Sangerhauseu Company. The battery is to be erected by the Colwell Company, and delivered to the Department there ready for use on or beforo the first of October. I think it is important to select a place, such as you describe Judge Rost's to be, where all the evaporating and other machinery for working the juices is ready for work. I propose to make the machinery as simple as possible and to devote all our ener- gies to solving the problem of diffusion. I expect to go to Louisiana early in March and hope to be able to make some favor- able arrangement without delay. The only hope for the success of our experiments is to work with some one who will use every endeavor to make success possible. The work of the Department will be purely experimental. If it is successful the planter will reap the full benefit of the success; if it is not, no one will suffer any loss. I do not think I shall ask for more than ten days for the experimental work, and would like to have fivo days of that time near the first of the season and the other five near the middle of it. Do you know of any other place where there is a complete apparatus for sugar making which you thiuk would be more favorable than Judge Rost's? Respectfully, Norman J. Colman, Commissioner. In March, 1887, the honorable Commissioner of Agriculture visited Louisiana to consult with a committee of the Sugar Planters' Association of that State respecting a suitable plantation on which the work should be done. This committee was composed of the following gentlemen, viz: lion. D. F. Kenuer, John Dvmond, Henry McCall, T. S. Wilkin- son, L. C. Keever, W. B. Schmidt, J. C. Morris, \V. C. Stubbs. The Commissioner of Agriculture visited, in company with the gentle- men named, the plantations which were thought suitable for the exper- imental work. After a careful examination the committee made the fol- lowing report: Whereas the Gfovernmenl of the United states has determined to test the praol Leal effect of the diffusion process upon the sugar manufacturing Interests of the country, ;inr. II. w. Wiley, having come to Louisiana to arrange for a competitive test with the methods now in use tu our State, :ui-i favorable re- sults under the old system, In order that the test should be ai severe, as thorough, as complete, and as decisive as possible. 79 " We have examined the various places seemingly available on the Mississippi River, and have carefully inquired concerning those on the T&che or Attakapas country, and after careful examination and thorough consideration have determined to recom- mend Governor H. C. Warrnoth's Magnolia plantation, in the parish of Plaquemines, as the most suitable locality, from the fact that it would afford the severest competitive test of any place in the State, as the yield on this plantation during several years has been greater per ton of cane ground than on any other place brought under our observation. March 16, 1887. John Dymond, Chairman. D. F. Kexxkk. Henry McCai.l. T. S. Wilkinson. L. C. Keeyeb. W. B. Schmidt. J. C. Morris. W. C. Stubbs. I certify that the above is a true copy of the report of this committee made to the Sugar Planters' Association, April 14, 1887. John Dymond, Chairman. The superior advantages afforded by Governor Warrnoth's sugar- house, the surplus boiler service at his command, and the facilities which he offered for an independent working- of the diffusion apparatus were the considerations which led the committee to select his place afl the one most suitable to the character of the contemplated work. At the request of the Commissioner there was appointed by Mr. Ken- ner. president of the Sugar Growers' Association, an advisory committee to assist those in charge of the work, and thus to help to its successful completion. This committee consisted of Hon. John Dymond, of Belair, and llenry McCall, of Donaldsonville. These gentlemen visited the plantation from time to time during the progress of the work, both of their own accord and by the request of the Commissioner. Following are the reports which they made of the progress of the work : Bblair, I. a.. Jul;/ 15, l--:. Dxab Sir: In accordance with your request in your favor of 1 — tli instant, 1 have visited Magnolia plantation, Tuesday . 12th, and Wednesday, 13th instant. The work seemed generally to be well advanced. The house was completed, except the floor. The oarbonio-acid pomp, filter-press pump, and cutter-engine were all in position and needed only connecting np. The foundations for the dill users were being huilt and will soon be completed. The excavation for cutter was made, but not yet walled np. The lime-kiln was finished, and the washers and connect ions will he completed t his week. It* the diffusion battery cornea along promptly, it would seem probable that the whole plant should he ready by October l, as anticipated. In consultation with the gentlemen In charge of the work, as yon ed, the matter of a water .supply for the ditliisers came np. 'I hey named 1,900 gallons, I be- lieve, as being the contemplated reservoir of water. It would seem to me don.ii.ie to have much more than this, as this limited supply mi-lit be exhausted any moment, and it would seem a pity to have the luce* m of d illusion dependent on a water supply which might he cut off in an hour or two t i tome quite trivial cause. I tie suggested a 10,000 oi 'lion wooden oiatern, which could probably 80 for $'200, and this would insure the continuance of the experiments during six or eight hours any way, and during that time any accident interfering with the water supply might he overcome. As one of the most important points to he determined would he the capacity of the hattery for twenty-four consecutive hours, it would be unfortunate to have any stop- page for water. Always glad to act on your suggestions, I am, Yours, truly, John Dymond, Of Advisory Committee. Hon. Norman J. Colman, Commissioner of Agriculture. Belair, La., August 2, 1887. Dear Sir: I have a letter from Mr. McCall, that lie will go with me to Magnolia August 12, and that he can not well go soouer. We shall then report at once to you as fully as practicable. There is considerable apprehension of danger to the diffusion experiments now felt here, owing to the newspaper report of the choking of the cutters used in Deuierara, which cutters are the same used, or contemplated using here. In response to your request for suggestions, would it not lie well to promptly find, by telegram or otherwise, what the exact cause of the trouble is, and whether or not it can be remedied. This seems to be a serious matter. Yours, truly, John Dy;.;ond. Hon. X.J. Colman, Commissioner of Agriculture. New Orleans, August 1."), 1SS7. Dear Sir: Yrour favor of the 3d instant to Mr. Dymond came duly to hand, and on the 12th instant we went to Magnolia and carefully inspected the work done and now going on in the matter of the proposed experiments in diffusion, and we would respectfully report : That we found the cane-cutter in position, as also the engine for driving it. The shafting and counter-shafting are not yet in place. The hoot of the Chip conveyer is in position, but the conveyer is not yet erected, nor is t here 3 el any device to deliver the chips from the cutter to the hoot of 1 he con- veyer, and we understand Mr. Bartheleny to say that none has been provided. Tin- diffusers were all in position upon the foundations and columns, hut were not connected by any pipe-work, and no platforms or doors were yet constructed about them. The oars for the discharge of the chips were there, but the circular track for them was not yet down. The c( Id water-supply cistern is not erected. The carbonating tanks are in position and connected together and ready for con- nection w it h t he diffusion bal bery. The air-compressing pump and the air-receiver, to dry the exhausted chips, were t here, and t he former in posit ion. The Lime-kiln is completed except the placing of the top casting in position and the erecting of the house and plat forms around it The washing arrangement for the oarbonic-acid gas and the pump to force the gas into the oarbonating tanks are all in position ami connected. The pump to take the juice from t he cai In mat ing tanks and force the same t h rough the lilter presses ia io position] M are also the ftltet presses, except one. that we were 81 told was to come from Fort Scott. The connections with the presses were not com- pleted. The sulphuring tanks, and also the sulphur stoves and sulphur air pump, were in position, and the lilter presses for the sulphured juice were also in position. To write of the matter more generally, we should say that while there seems yet much to do in the way of details, yet we think excellent progress has been made, and that unless some unforeseen delay occurs the apparatus will be ready in due time for the experiments. The cane-cutter is a beautiful machine, but its complete failure in Demerara, where its duplicate was used, and whence we now have the report of Mr. Quintin Hogg, the proprietor, that it took forty-eight hours to slice 108 tons of cane, indicates its com- plete uselessness for the purpose, as it is now constructed. This excites considerable anxiety here, as with allot our machinery now in position we are absolutely without any cutter that can cut the canes. Other cutters may demand different arrangements of gearing and shafting that might result in delay if not at once considered and provided for. Mr. Barthelemy thinks that the difficulty with the present cutter arises from the fact that the short ends of the canes can not be held in position for the cutters to act on them, and that a system of spring rollers might be added to hold these ends in posi- tion until the slicing is completed. This seems plausible, and it might be well for you to give him authority to experi- ment in that direction, but it seems to be almost too late to experiment now, and especially so when we know that the failure of the same machine has terminated the experiments m Demerara, making it a disaster. Mr. Hogg reports they return to the cane-mil] process there until proper cutters are provided, lie does not Beem disposed to experiment with the cutters. It would seem extremely desirable to provide the cutters that succeeded in Java, as you suggest, and farther to provide those you now have at Fort Scott, as you suggest, as the w ho!.' experiment may be placed in peril from these difficulties in cutting. We shall be pleased to be of any further service we can. and remain, roars, respectfully, John DYMOND, Hi m:v -M< ('all, jdrisoni Committee, Dr. H. W. Wiley, Chemist, Department of Agriculture, Wanh'iuijton, D. C. CANE-SLICK 1.'. [n order to secure a multiple feed for a single cutter it was deter- mined to adopt the horizontal disk system. Cutters of this kind not being made in this country, it was necessary to purchase one in Europe, The cutter bail! by the Bangerhauser Company, of Sangerhausen, Germany, was selected. This cutter was guarantied to give from 200 to 250 tons of Chips per twenty lour hours, suitable lor diffusion. This Slicing -machine j having been tried in Demerara in the early summer, proved inefficient. To guard against failure from lack of a proper cutter, another machine which had already proved successful in Java was ordered from the Sudenburg Company of Madgeburg. The small cutter, with a horizontal disk, tried at Fort Scott last year, was also seat to New York for certain alterations, and thence to Mag- nolia. Unfortunately the new knives sent with the machine had pot 15449— No, 17 Q 82 been properly tempered, and this prevented the use of this cutter for the preliminary experiments. Mr. R. Sieg, of Xew Orleans, who had had large experience in work- ing cane-cutters in Louisiana in 1874 and the following years, was also instructed to build a cutter with vertical disk and multiple feed. We found, however, that the time at his disposal was too short to permit the building of such a machine as he desired. On October 6, I received the following instructions : You are hereby instructed to go to Fort Scott, Kans.. and after inspecting the work of the Department there in the manufacture of sugar, you will proceed to Lawrence, La., to conduct the work of the Department at that place in the application of diffu- sion to the extraction of sugar from sngar-cane. You are also authorized to travel between Magnolia Station and New Orleans as often as may be necessary to secure the proper conduct of public business. Very respectfully, Norman J. Colman, Commissiuiur. In obedience to the above instructions I reached Magnolia on the evening of October 17,1887. The experimental work was conducted without being complicated by the use of any process or machinery in which any one in the employment of the Department had any patented or financial interest whatever. The sole object in view was to benefit those engaged in the manufacture of sugar in all parts of the country. Experiments conducted at public expense should, in my opinion, be for the public good, and not for the benefit of a private individual or cor- poration. On the morning of the 19th the diffusion building was badly injured by a cyclone. The water tank to supply the battery, together with the tower supporting it, was blown on to Governor Warmoth's sugar-house, causing great damage. Nearly a month was required to repair the dam- age and restore the building and apparatus to the condition in which it was before the storm. The delays incident to the working of new machinery were numerous. The original plan contemplated having all the machinery ready by the 1st of October, thus permitting a series of preliminary trials extending over a month before the regular season began. Instead of this, however, unavoidable delays, incident to the imper- fections of the machinery and the damage of the storm, postponed even the preliminary experiments until the beginning of December. A recital of the details of these delays would only lengthen the re" port without adding anything to its value. It must be said, however, in this connection that the gentlemen associated with me worked ear- nestly and faithfully through all the discouragements attending the preparation of the machinery. Mr. Ernest Bchulze, representing the Sangerhauser Company, was also present, and rendered valuable assistance in putting his cane* sheer in working older. 83 The numerous defects in the battery and the cutter having been remedied, the apparatus of the Colwell Company was accepted on De- cember 11, 1887. Mr. A. W. Colwell, the president of the company, was present during the final trials of the battery, and rendered valuable assistance in putting it into working order. The defects in both cutter and battery were of a minor character, but were such as to greatly delay the use of new machinery for new purposes. The final working of all the machin- ery was excellent and satisfactory. The season's experiments, how- ever, disclosed many improvements of a seemingly trivial nature, but by the adoption of which a more economical working of the diffusion process can be secured. These improvements will be discussed in another place. The first results from the experiments were obtained from the run of December 3, 1887. The juice was treated with .3 per cent, its weight of lime, and after the precipitation of the lime with carbonic dioxide, an amount of lignite equal to 10 per cent, of the weight of the sugar present was added. The juice filtered readily through the presses, forming firm, hard cakes. The filtered juice was treated with phosphate of soda, 15 pounds of this salt being added for each 5,000 pounds of juice. The phosphate produced an abundant llocculent precipitate, whirl) filtered easily through the twin filter presses, giving a juice of remark able limpidity. The massecuitc, however, was dark, and the molasses much inferior in color to that made by the use of bone-black and ordi- nary clarification. The phosphate of soda did not produce as favorable results as had been expected, and its further use was discontinued. Following are the data obtained in the first run : First diffusion run, December :>, 186 Total solids. Sucrose. Glucose. Juice from chips: 15.20 14.45 12.01 LI. 92 1.00 1 02 Third 15.03 12.20 . '.".i Diffusion J . .8.'! ml 8. 7t; Exha :~-i< 'I chips: Third •ample Carhonatated |nies .11 Waste m >'■ \ Semi-sii up First bo i Beoond sugar 11.11 84 Cane used tons.. 80.3 First susrar per ton pounds.. 146. 1 Second sugar per ton do 40. 1 Total first and second sugars 186.2 Third sugar 15. 0 Pounds. The total sugar in the eauo at 90 per cent, juice was 220. 6 Of this there was obtained 14G.1 pounds at 97.50 144.4 And 40.1 pound* at 91. 6 86. 7 Total pure sucrose obtained. 181.1 Left in chips 14.6 Total left in molasses and lost in manufacturing 24. 9 (Note.— The third sugar will not be dried until in May or June, 1888. The esti- mates of third sugar have been made by Mr. E. C. Barthelemy.) EXTRACTION. The percentage of sucrose left in the spent chips was .73. Sucrose in cane was 11.03 per cent. The per cent, of extraction is therefore 11.03 - .73 = 10.30 -r 11.03 x 100 = 93.4. SECOND TRIAL. Another trial was made of the diffusion machinery beginning' Decem- ber 9. Carbonatation was again used, but without lignite or any fori her treatment. The juice passed directly from the filter presses to the double effect pan. The quantity of lime employed was .G per cent, the weight of the juice. The filtration was perfect. The experiment was remarkable in showing that a perfect defecation can be made with carbonatation with a much smaller percentage of lime than had been supposed necessary. The masse cuite was dark, but the sugar a fair yellow. Following are the data of the run : Second diffusion run. December 9, 1887. Frcsli chips: -1 sample. . . iiid sample. Third sample.. Fourth sample. Fifth sample. .. Diffusion juice: First sample... ond sample Third sample.. ■tli sample i iti ii sample. .< III. .1 juice Km ^i sample . nml sample Third sample ii i h sample Total solids. Sucrose. Glucose. rer cent. Per cent. 11 66 11.70 1.04 15. 65 13 64 ,78 15.70 .78 L5.50 18.02 .81 L4.00 11. 18 LOS 14.08 12.01 .88 9. 86 7.83 .07 8. 67 7 85 . 58 0. c* 7. (11 . 56 16, 10 8 69 .91 lit. -jo 8.45 .78 9. GO 7.90 .09 0 L9 7. 78 . 88 8 71 .57 10. L'O .66 11 10 8 | 0 .7:i 9.80 8.10 .61 85 Second diffusion ran, Deoem^er9t L887— Continued. Total sohda. Sucrose. Glucose. Exhausted chips: First sample. .. Second sample. Third sample.. Fourth sample. Fifth sample... Per cent. 1.58 1.69 .48 .32 .40 Per cent. Average Semi-sirup First sugar Molasses from firsts. Second sugar 47.70 72.20 86 9(5. 60 42. -4(1 87.30 2.96 'i6.*50 Pounds Yield of first sugar per ton 1 28 Yield of second sugar per ton 43 Cane used, tons 90 Tbe total sugar in the cane at 90 per cent, juice was per ton.. 226. 98 Oft bese there was obtained 128 pounds at96.6 123. 6 And 43 pounds at 87.3 37. 5 Total pure sucrose obtained pet ton.. 161. l Pure sucrose left in chips do 17. 8 Pure sucrose left in molasses and lost in manufacture do 41. 1 Third sugar estimated do 17. 0 Percentage sugar in cane extracted 92. 16 The poor yield was due to use of tbick chips during the first part of the run, causing a loss of l.G per cent, sucrose in the chips. Following are the analytical data of the run : THIRD TRIAL. In this run the use of carbonatation and lignite was discontinued. The diffusion juices were treated with sulphur fumes until well satu rated. They were then treated with lime and clarified in the usual way. The clarification took place readily. The quantity of scums was very small, and the sediment subsided rapidly, forming a thin Layer on the bottom of the tank, permitting the clear liquor to be easily and com- pletely drawn oil'. The juice passed at once from the clarilieis to the double effect pan and subsequently received no further purification. 86 Following- are the analytical data obtained: Third diffusion run December 10 and 11, 1888. Fresh chips: First sample .. • ml sample Third sample.. Average. Diffusion juice: First sample.. Second sample. Third sample.. Sulphured juice: First samplo .. >nd sample. Total solids. 14,39 12.77 14. 49 13.88 9.42 u Per ceo acted obtained in firsts Total solids. Sucrose. 16.46 17.27 1 7. 26 17.13 10. 07 1G.10 16. 26 16.70 10. 10. T.-» 11.77 12.01 11. til 11.25 11.48 14.60 8.71 9.01 10 16 9. :»i 9.87 it. 69 9. 77 0.3] 9.69 Glucose. Per cent. .49 .4i .43 .4.-. .54 .61 .50 .49 n. 34 10.36 9.51 9.87 36 . 52 .61 1.12 .72 1.09 1.10 31 76. 22 l. 19 ID pounds Third sagai pei ton (estimated) d<> Dane, used tooi 1 III II I KI M.. The fifth and last ran of the diffusion battery was began <»n January 11 and finished on the L8th. This trial was made after the milling work had been completed. The diffusion juices were treated precisely •On February 29 1 waa Informed bj letter from Governor Warmoth thai the third mil;. us in, in the fourth ran had been di led and ireighed, j Ieldlng 3,723 ponndfl oi 18.6 pounds per ton. 88 the same way as the mill juices had beeu, and after passing over bone- black were concentrated to sirup in a Yaryan quadruple effect, which had been in use with the mill juices during the manufacturing season. The working of all the machinery during this final trial was admira- ble, and the even march of the whole work promoted the efficiency of the machinery and the successful manipulation of the juice. Analytical data of fifth run. X... Brix. Sucrose. Glucose. No. Brix. Sucrose. Glucose. Fresh chips : 397 16.87 16.39 16. 39 17.09 16.86 17.16 16.93 17.00 16.70 16.79 17. 19 16.73 17.11 16.17 16.17 16.60 10.63 16.77 16.23 16.03 16.07 16. 84 16.37 16. 51 16.94 16.57 Per cent. 14. 23 13.45 13.79 14.73 12.11 14.73 14.06 14.50 13.93 14.11 14.17 14.19 14. 55 13.48 13: 43 13.99 14.39 14.28 13. 29 13.79 13.35 14 34 13.54 14.17 14.38 14.52 Per cent. .74 .87 .89 .68 . 7"> .64 .70 .61 .73 .74 .61 . 59 .61 .7:. .76 .63 .65 .63 .77 .76 .85 .61 .82 .70 .65 .63 _ ."89" .59 .70 Diffusion juices— con- tinued. 450 9.88 10.87 9.89 10.67 10.47 10.17 10.15 10.31 10. 59 9.69 Per cent. 8.12 9.00 ""aii" 8.01 & 02 7.86 7.92 S. 26 7. .">;; 400 43 403 453 .38 405 460 .45 408 466 .61 411 469 7> 414 473 .48 417 47-5 479 . 48 420 .47 423 485 491 . 51 426 .61 499 437 9.28 7. 53 8.41 72 440 .31 443 .47 Exhausted chips: 399 449 .52 .21 .52 . 32 . 52 .41 .83 .42 .42 .55 .42 .50 .50 .42 .40 . 69 .51 .42 . '.' .43 .51 .84 !48 r6"9~ .21 . 11 452. 459 402 .. 465 .. 407 468 410 472 413 .. 475 416 478 419... 481 .. 4" 490 .. . 425 . 14.73 12.11 13.98 * 431 439 . 11.37 10. 67 10.01 10.38 11.01 10.91 10.71 10.65 10. 57 10.52 10. or, 10.27 10.73 49.5 442 415 Diffusion juices : 398 9.28 8.66 8.92 8. 53 9.10 8 60 8.76 8.77 8.51 8.90 9. 05 8. Pi 8.91 8. '.>'.i 7.68 .60 .61 .49 .41 .45 .48 .40 .40 .44 .46 . 85 . 15 .42 .:;i 448 451 401 454 404 401 409 467 .. 412 .. 470 415 474 418 .. 477 421 424 427 . 492 43H... 4*1 441 .. 417 The molasses from the first sugars being very rich, the method of re- boiling to grain was employed. To this end the molasses of the first st rike, having been reduced to 55 to <>o per cent. of total solids, was boiled on a nucleus of first sugar left in the pan from the second strike. In this way all the molasses was boded to grain with most gratifying re- sults except that from the last strike of the first sugars. The attempt to boil this to grain did not succeed in giving a masse (Mite Which could be dried with ease. The molasses running from the machines was so thick that it clogged them up. Seven Large s agar wagons were tilled with this material and set in the hot room. 89 The sugars made were equal in every respect to those obtained by will- ing in similar instances. Without counting the second sugar above named, the grained sugar per ton amounted to 181.5 pounds. The grained sugars in wagons will yield not less than 7,500 pounds or 1 8 pounds per ton.* The third sugars are estimated by Mr. Barthelemy at not less than 10 pounds per ton. The total yield per ton of the fifth run will reach therefore 215.5. The number of tons of cane used was 417. Summary of results. Number of run. 1 'J 3 4 5 Mean Mean Cane. sucrose glucose in juice. in juice. Tons. Per cent. Per cent. 80. 3 12 26 .99 90.0 12.61 .68 110.0 11.53 .78 2 0.0 14.60 .4!) 417.0 13. 98 .70 Sugar grained in pan per ton. First sugar. Pounds. 1-28.0 143.0 181.5 Wagon sugar per ton. Total per tun Second sugar. Third sugar (es- timated). Pounds. 40.1 43.0 *30.0 4;\9 *18.0 Pounds. 15 18 12 18 16 Pounds. 201.2 189 0 185.0 * Estimated. t A. tiutl weight, 16 :: pounds per (on, and 213.8 pounds total Bugai - pei ton. '1 lie third sugars from tliis inn were mixi r grained sugars affords the best a mparison of the two systems of manufacture. Judged by this standard the diffu- sion process had given a yield of sugar fully 30 pounds per ton greater than was afforded by milling. For further data on this point Bee the report of Governor Warmotb farther on. CHAB LCI ERISTICS or mi l CJSION JUIC1 The juice of diffusion differs from the mill juice chiefly in its content of water. In addition to this, also, must bo noted a Blight increase in the ratio of glue >se to sue ios,«. 'i his is due doubt loss to a Blight inver- sion of the sucrose during the proce - ofdiffusiou. Prom a commercial • ill,- actual 3 ield reported i<> d i Wannoth, pounds, or 16.3 [><>nmis pei ton, 90 point of view the loss is insignificant Further, it may be said that there appeared to be in the diffusion juice treated in the ordinary way a slightly increased amount of gummy matter. This was noticed only in filtering the sirup through bone-black. In the strike-pan and the centrifugal the products of diffusion worked fully as well as those from the mill. DISPOSITION OF CHIPS. An attempt was made to pass the chips through the five-roll mill, but it was found impracticable. The first rolls would not take them easily, and the secoud set of rolls had to be opened somewhat to secure the proper feed. The bagasse issuing from the mill contained still G5 per cent, water and made a poor fuel. It would probably not be a difficult problem to so adjust the mill as to secure a proper drying of the chips. To return the chips to the soil, however, appears to be the most rational method of disposing of them. It is true that if spread too thickly on the soil the chips may prove highly injurious, but if distributed in a thin layer, covering almost if not quite the original acreage of the cane furnishing them, they would certainly prove advantageous. The chips would not only furnish or- ganic matter to the soil and thus increase its porosity, but they also contain still a considerable part of nitrogenous matter, which would afford a valuable plant food. Even the richest land should be treated fairly, and the cane-field should receive as nearly as possible as much as it gives. The additional cost of replacing the chips on the field is a matter which should receive attention here, but the benefit will appar- ently be greater than the expense. During the manufacturing season the chips can be deposited in large beds, which subsequently can be transferred to the field. If time for the partial decay of the chips should be desired, the accumulation of one season need not be moved until the following year. DISPOSITION OF SCUMS AND SEDIMENTS. The scums and sediments were successfully treated by the process of carbonatation. The expense of a lime-kiln is not necessary for this work. It was satisfactorily done by drawing the carbonic dioxide gas directly from the stack of the boilers. As high as 11 per cent of C02 was found in the gases from this source. The scums, etc., heated with 2 to 3 per cent, of lime, are subjected to the action of the gas until the lime is precipitated. They then can be easily and rapidly altered. By means of a cheap and convenient montc jus the scums and sedi- ments were also ret urned to the battery. The method of operating was as follows : The scums and sediments from the clnrilieis were collected in a tank furnished with a steam coil to keep them at the boiling temperature. 91 This tank was connected with a moate ju.s of 50 liters capacity. This apparatus was connected with the compressed-air service used in oper- ating the battery. It was so arranged that the master of diffusion, or his assistant, could operate it directly from the central column of the battery. After each cell wa • filled with chips, 50 liters of the scums were run into the montejus from the storage tank, and, by means of compressed air, poured into the full cell. The process of diffusion was then con- tinued in the usual way. The quantity of liquid drawn from each cell was increased by the amount of scums added. For instance, if 900 liters were the amount regulurly drawn, 9.30 would be taken from a cell to which the scums had been added, as above indicated. No deterioration of the diffusion juice could be detected in using this method. This procedure was also used during the progress of the work con- ducted by the Department at Fort Scott during the season of 1SS7. 1 have been told that a patent has been applied for to cover this process, and have therefore placed on record the experiments made at Lawrence for the public benefit. TUE USE OF LIGNITE. In order to get lignite of the best possible variety and in the best form for use, a few tons of the ground article were purchased from the inventor of the process of filtering with brown coal, Mr. Fritz Kleeman, of Schouigen, Germany. I have already alluded to the successful use of lignite in conjunction with lime and carbonic acid. This experiment, however, did not show that any beneficial effects were produced by the introduction of the lignite. Afterwards experiments were made by Mr. Kleeman himself, using lignite alone. Mr. Kleeman said the arrangement of the clarifj Lng tanks was not suitable to the process. The filter cloths were soon dogged and the attempt at filtration had to be abandoned. Later in the season 1 received a letter from Mr. YY. .1. Thompson, of Calumet Plantation, in which he said that he would make a trial of the process under more favorable conditions t nan obtained at Magnolia, and requesting me to .send him enough of the Kleeman lignite for that pur- pose. This 1 gladly did. Mr. Thompson made a run of nineteen clari- li«i j with lignite, but found so many difficulties at tending the work that its further pn abandoned.1 On the other hand, Prof< Stubbs, at Ken ner, working with a small press, secured results that were highlj satisfactory. The results of the work with lignite show— (l) Thai on a ! .i le tic nitration takes place with groat « 1 i 1 1 i cultv, unless a very great quantity of the lignite be used and the juice be neutral or slightly alkaline. 92 (2) That with a slight excess of lime, precipitated with carbonic acid, lignite can be successfully used to increase the filtering surface. (3) The decolorizing power of lignite varies with the nature of the sample. In some cases this property is present in a high degree ; in others, entirely absent. (4) The successful working of the process on a small scale would indicate that it might be worked commercially. (5) In juices as pure as those of sugar-canes, filtration through lig- nite, even if easily done, does not seem to be necessary. I had expected to have Mr. Thompson's complete report on the experiments with lignite before this time, but it has not yet been re- ceived. COMPARATIVE YIELD FROM MILL AND DIFFUSION BATTERY. The comparative yield from the cane-mill and the diffusion battery is given by Governor Warmoth in a paper read before the Planter's Association at the February meeting, viz : The first cane worked was from second-year stubble, and it gave us 14G pounds of first sugar to the ton and 40 pounds of seconds. The molasses was put into the cisterns with the other, and we can not give any estimate of t ho thirds. Our mill gave us 145 pounds first and second sugars from this cane. The next test was from some green caue, grown on new land, yielding 28 tons of cane per acre — considerably blown down and sprouted in a small degree. This had much less sugar in it than the first caue. Yet we got T28 pounds of first sugar and 43 pounds second sugar per ton from it. Our mill gave us J 40 pounds of first and second sugar per ton from this caue. The next run gave us 165.5 pounds firsts, 45.9 of seconds; total, 211.4 pounds, with thirds in the wagons, which wo estimate will give us 15 pounds more, a total of 226.4 pounds. The next rim was Oil 450 tons of cane, beginning on the 13th of January, ending OH the 18th. This cane was rich and fine. It had been killed on the 26th of December, was not windrowed, but was in fine condition. From this caue diffusion gave us 181 pounds of first sugar and grained seconds, with enough left in the wagons to bring it Dp to 223 pounds. From this cane we got 193 pounds of first and second sugar by our mill.* All of this shows about the same difference bet ween diffusion and our in ill- work of about 35 pounds of sugar per ton of cane. I do not mean to be invidious when I say that I think we got a Little better extraction by our mill than any of our neighbors. My friend, Mr. Dan Thompson, gol more sugar to the ton of cane in 1886 than we did, but this result was obtained not BO much by bis extraction as by the skillful work in the balance of his house, in which I firmly believe the equal does not exist in Lou- isiana. It Is safe to say thai the average yield per ton of oane in the State Is not over 110 pounds. I believe diffusion will bring the average up to within the neighborhood of 200 pounds— a gain of certainly 75 pounds, and perhaps 90 pounds, per ion of cane. " Mr. Thompson's report was received March 5, See Appendix I'.. \< »ii..— In nspect of i h«' last run, the analytical data show that the oane worked by the mill during its last run, from which 193 pounds per ton were made, was richer iu lucrose by nearly l per cent, than that worked at the last diffusion run. 93 My nearest neighbor, Mr. Bradish Johnson, obtained the past season 136 pounds of sugar per ton of cane. We are within 3 miles of each other; our land is much the same ; our cultivation is substantially the same. It is fair to assume his cane was as rich as mine, jet we had about 175 pounds of all sugar per ton, a difference of 39 pounds of sugar per ton on our mill-work, and about 71 pounds difference on the dif- fusion work. Take his estate for illustration: His 10,000 tons of cane gave him 1,390,000 pounds of sugar. Had he worked his crop by diffusion he would certainly have had 70 pounds more sugar to the ton of cane. This would have increased his yield 700,000 pounds of sugar, which, at 5$ cents per pound, would have given him $38,500 more for his crop than he received. Take my own crop of 13,300 tons of cane. Had 1 worked it by diffusion I would have had 35 pounds more sugar per ton. This would have given me 465,000 pounds more sugar than I obtained, an ") pounds of sugar from about or 4,750 pounds per acre. The cash increase of my crop would have been, at '■{ cents per pound, $25,592.50, a difference to Mr. Johnson of $3.85 per ton of cane, and to me, on my crop, of $1.82$ per ton of cane. QUANTITY OF JUICE DRAWN FROM EACH CELL. The cane used for diffusion was weighed and delivered, chiefly on cars. to the cutter. The trash which becomes detached in handling the cane was collected in carts and weighed, and its weight deducted from the total. No account was taken of the trash which entered the cutter. It was found that the average weight of chips in each cell, when filled in the ordinary manner, was 1.7.57 pounds. One cell filled with extra care was weighed, and the weight found to be 1,860 pounds. It was thus seen that by ca-eful packing it was easy to get 100 pounds extra weight of chips into each cell. The quantity of juice drawn from each cell varied from 900 to 1,000 liters, or from 2,059 to 2,288 pounds. The mean quantity of juice drawn for the fust four runs was nearly 2,170 pounds. Assuming that in each KM) pounds of chips there is IK) percent, of juice, we have in 1,757 pounds of chips 1,581.3 pounds of normal juice. The quantity of diffusion juice from this was 2,170 pounds. The in- crease over normal juice is therefore 589 pounds, or 37.2 per cent. In the last run a much greater dilution w as secured, in order to get a slow current of the juice through the calorisators the master of diffusion was instructed to begin filling the cell with juice when it was about half full of chips. At the end of the run it was found thai the introduction of liquid had caused a floating of the chips, ami that the weight of chips in each cell has been greatly diminished. Thus a higher dilution of the diffusion juice was secured than was intended. The very p< haustion of the chips during the last run was partialis Becured by this means. The mean weight of chips in each cell duriug the last inn was 1,500 pounds; the weight of normal juice 1,350 pounds, m increa (0 per cent. Thjs dilution is greater than js necessary fordid 94 work. With a battery of sixteen cells I think the dilution could be easily reduced to 30 per cent, and the extraction be satisfactory. COAL CONSUMED. The quantity of coal consumed depends first on the efficiency of the boilers and evaporators employed, secoud on the quality of the coal, and third on the dilution of the juice. In beet-sugar factories the basis of computation is generally based on the dilution arising from drawing ISO pounds of diffusion juice from each 100 pounds of beet cuttings. In respect of evaporation what is found to be true of beet juices will also apply to cane juices of the same density. From the arrangement of the machinery at Magnolia it was found impossible to measure the quantity of coal consumed by the diffusion work. In the last run, when the milling work was over, the centrifu- gals were run drying seconds and the vacuum pan boiling thirds during the process of the work. In addition to this, a part of the steam used was furnished by the bagasse boilers, using wood and coal as a fuel — not an economical method of making steam. As nearly as could be estimated, the quantity of coal required to make a pound of sugar was 2 pounds. The actual quantity of coal which would be required with the best boilers and evaporators may be found by consulting Dr. Karl Stammer's latest edition of li Text-book of Sugar Making," pages 87,3 ct seq. When ISO pounds juice are taken for each 100 pounds beets the con- sumption of coal to reduce the juice to a sirup of GO per cent, total solids is as follows : Pounds. Willi double-effect pan 13. ."> With triple-effect pan it. 10 Willi qnadrnple-effect pan <;. ?t; To reduce the sirup to masse cuite requires LI 1 pounds. We find, therefore, the following quantities of coal necessary for each 100 pounds raw material giving ISO pounds of juice: Pounds. For a doable effect 17.94 For a triple effect 13 54 For a quadruple effect 11.30 \i' now we take the ordinary dilution for sugarcane, the following nnmbera are found : In evaporating ISO pounds of diffusion juice from 100 pounds cuttings to 00 per cent, sirup 156 pounds of water are evaporated. In evaporat- ing L25 pounds Of diffn8ion juice to same density, only 1 01 pounds of water are driven off. To evaporate L56 pounds of water 13.26, 9.10, and 0.70 pounds of coal are used for double, triple, and quadruple effects, respectively. For the same weight of cane chips, giving L25 pounds of 95 diffusion juice, the quantities of coal consumed would be 8.68, 5.89, aud 4.44 pouuds, respectively. To reduce this to masse cuite would require the same consumption as before, viz, 4.44 pouuds. One hundred pounds of cane chips will yield l>3~ diffusion an average of 10 pounds of sugar for the whole State of Louisiana. The coal consumed in evaporation, therefore, would be : Pouuds. For a double effect L3. 02 For a triple effect 10.33 For a qnadrup.e effect S -- The above computation includes the exhaust steam from the pumps, centrifugal engine, etc. The quantity of steam required to run the bat- tery must be added to the above. It certainly would not amount to more than two pounds per hundred of cane used. With the best apparatus most economically arranged the total con- sumption of coal per 100 pounds of cane would be: Pounds. For a double effect 15. 02 For a triple effect 12. 33 For a quadruple effect 10.88 Keduced to 1,000 pounds of sugar from cane yielding an average of 10 per cent, of all sugars, the figures become: For 1,000 pounds BQgar — Pounds. Witb double effect 1,502 With triple effed 1,233 With quadruple effect 1,088 In ail these calculations the coal is assumed to be of fair average quality, and to be able to convert G pounds of water into Steam at usual boiler pressure for each 1 pound of coal. In general, then, it may be said the quantity of coal required to make 1,000 pounds of sugar by diffusion varies from 1,000 to 1,500 pounds, according to the system of evaporation employed. Diffusion can only be made an economical success when the best ma- chinery and the most economical methods are employed. Tin' great objection which has been urged against it, viz, the increased consump- tion of fuel required, is entirely removed when the process is carried on under the economical conditions which have been mentioned. To attempt to introduce diffusion with old and worn out apparatus, defective boilers and open pans, would simply be di8a8trOUS. It ean only succeed when the highest mechanical skill, associated with the best scientific control, directs all the operations of the sugai house. In the one experiment where actual weighings have been completed of the whole product, \ ix. the fourth run, the quantity of su-ar made per ton is : tads. First Seconds Thirds . l-..; Total 96 I do not think, therefore, that it is extravagant to believe that with the best culture and most economical method of manufacture the yield per ton of cane in Louisiana may be brought up to 200 pounds. The introduction of diffusion means almost a complete rehabilitation of the average sugar house. It would be unreasonable to expect that plant- ers will have the money and the desire to undertake such a radical change, or at least to make it rapidly. But it seems to me that the gradual introduction of diffusion, with its concomitant machinery, will work a great change in the sugar in- dustry of the South, bringing success and prosperity where, for years, a hard struggle for existence has been going on. The final result, I sincerely hope, will bring into cultivation the ex- tensive areas of rich sugar lands nosv lying idle and increase the pro- duction of the State of Louisiana to 500,000 tons annually. T can not close this report without expressing my hearty appreciation of the support I have received from the sugar planters. The great majority of them were skeptical in respect of the process, but all were anxious that a thorough trial should be made. Particularly I desire to thank Governor Warmoth for his constant and enthusiastic support and for generously giving $5,000 and more to continue experiments, when the funds appropriated for them had been exhausted by the expensive delays caused by the cyclone and imperfec- tions in the mach inery. Without this timely aid the whole work would have been stopped on the very threshold of success. The advice and encouragement of Messrs. Dymond and McCall, mem- bers of the advisory committee, helped me greatly during the most try- ing days of the work, when it seemed an almost hopeless task to wrestle further with difficulties of a purely mechanical nature. The active co-operation of Mr. J. 13. Wilkinson, jr., was a source of constant assistance during the whole progress of the work, which is but inadequately recognized by a simple sentence of thanks. Of my own assistants, Messrs. liarthelemy and Spencer had charge of the erection of the building and of the apparatus, except that put up by the Colwell Company. Mr. Barthelemy took charge of the sugar making during the various trials and Mr. Spencer had the general supervision of the diffusion process and particularly of the limekiln and carbonatation apparatus. Messrs. Cram pton and Fake took charge of the chemical work. Mr. dohn Dugan was master of diffusion. Mr. R. Sieg, as consulting engi- neer, rendered much assistance. His long experience and thorough knowledge of the literature of diffusion rendered his services particu- larly valuable. Finally, I will say that no one recognizee more fully than myself the many imperfections noticed during the progress of the experiments in the machinery and methods employed. I have endeavored not to con- ceal these, believing that in pointing them out a sen ice is rendered the public onl\ |eSS valuable than th;it seemed by complete success, APPENDIX A. Letter of the Commissioner in transmitting report of M, Sicenson to the ate. United States Department of Agriculture, Division of Chemistry, Washington, J). C. February 2, 1888. Sir : In response to a resolution of the Senate of the 30th ultimo, I have the honor to transmit herewith a copy of the report made to this Department by Professor Swenson on the subject of sorghum sugar. For the further information of the Senate I beg to say that experi- ments in the manufacture of sugar have been conducted by this De- partment during the past season at three stations, namely, Rio Grande, N. J. ; Fort Scott, Kans. ; and Magnolia Plantation. La. The two first- named stations worked with the sorghum cane and the last-named sta- tion with sugarcane. I was led to change my original intention to publish the reports of these stations separately by the belief that the com- bination of the three reports in one volume would make a more useful, practicable, and valuable document for purposes of comparison and otherwise — a document which would be especially valuable in the South to sugar-planters, who might thereby be* led to greatly prolong their sugar-working season by planting both the sorghum and the sugar caue. The material portions of the reports of the two first-named stations were thereupon made public through the press and their official publi- cation delayed, awaiting the termination, last week, of the experiments at Magnolia. The manuscript for this report is now ready for the printer,and it will be published as an official report of this Department within a few da\ -. Very respectfully. Norman J. Colman, Gomm i tjri culture. Hon. John J. Ingalls, President pro tempore) United States 15449— No. 1 7 7 APPENDIX B. BROWN COAL AND WOOD CHAR IN THE FILTRATION OF CANE JUICES AND SIRUPS. Calumet Sugar-House, Bayou Teche, La., Wednesday, February 29, 1888. Dear Sir: Pursuant to the conditions attaching 9 tons of German lignite furnished him by the U. S. Department of Agriculture tor ex- perimentation in cane-juice filtration at this factory, 1 am instructed by Mr. Daniel Thompson, its proprietor, under whose exclusive patron- age the experiments have otherwise been conducted, to make you the following report concerning the same : A miniature apparatus comprising mill, Steam -defecators, open steam- evaporators, subsiders, and a laboratory, frame filter-press from Wege- lin and I liibner, center-feed, executed iu bronze, of one-half square foot filtering area, arranged for complete displacement, offered reasonable facilities at all times to small work. Four Kroog presses of thirty frames, 220 square feet filtering surface each, so mounted with respect to receiving vessels, juice, and lixiviating pumps, safety-valves, and like appurtenances as to have operated upon scums throughout the season without suggesting alteration, besides eliciting the eulogiuins of the inventor of the so-called Brown coal process, served during industrial trials. All pipes were of copper or brass, pumps of bronze, and the plates, perforated sheets, frames and other iron parts of the apparatus in contact with juice all thoroughly painted, as insurance against dis- coloration of products. A well arranged chemical laboratory, unusually well equipped tor investigations connected with sugar, was also pro- vided. Mr. Ii. Eemmers, an English expert in mechanical filtration and sugar refining, well known to readers of the Sugar Oane Magazine, assumed technical control of the experiments, assisted by Mr. n. A. Williams, chemist from the Louisiana Sugar Experiment Station, Mr. J, 1\ Bald- win, a local adept in defecation, ami two long-time employes of the factory. A preliminary study was made of cake format ion. for this pur- pose Spanish whiting, variously colored, as with aniline dyes and alizarine, kept mechanically suspended iii water by vigorous agitation, was pumped into the chambers, the cakes being finished oil at high pressures to insure extreme solidity, which, after removal, were cut into sections, longitudinal and transverse, ii was found that, with con- st ant or \ei \ gradually increased pressures maintained within t he cham- bers, and a liquid kept under unaltered conditions, the cakes formed by extremely uniform accretions, beginning with a thin ami even coating of the entile tilt « * i lug area. o\ er which t he various OOlOTfl USed deposited 100 one upon the other, as fed in succession to the press, in likewise thin and equable layers, until the chambers were quite filled and filtration ceased. AVith oscillatory pressures and with substances of widely differ- ing specific gravities, such as whiting, brown coal, red lead, wood char, and ultramarine, one following upon the other, the various laminre proved most irregular in their deposition upon the filter-bed, being com- paratively of excessive thickness in parts while running out altogether in others, the plane of contact being besides often obliterated or scarcely defined, because of partial intermingling between the different sub- stances employed. The same effects, also, found their cause in the use of any given substance fed alternately in fine and coarse division, or at first in high followed by low percents of the matrix. There can be little doubt that for the best results in general filter- press work, this indicates, as afterwards substantiated for sugar liquors by the use of hydrostatic columns on the one hand and inter in ittency secured through means of a by-pass valve on the other, the first im portance of constant pressures, freed especially from the vibratory pul- sations of ordinary pumps, and a liquid so agitated while awaiting the process as to carry to the press, at all stages of this, a reasonably uni- form percentage of whatever matrix isemployed, the laws of hydraulics, as illustrated in silt-bearing streams, here again exhibiting themselves in complete application. Satisfied that the mechanical arrangement of the large apparatus was appropriate to the intervention of a matrix and that the small answered to all the essential conditions of the large, systematic work with brown coal, under what is known as the Kleemann process, began on Novem- ber 29. Five long tons of this article had been imported by Mr. Dan'l Thompson, through the Sangerhausen Maschinenfabrick, Germany, which, however, was so superlatively unfit for its destined duty, by reason of uneven and inadequate pulverization, as to have required pre- vious and, of course, laborious hand-sifting. It was first sought to learn what relation varying quantities of this article bore to speed in the filtration of defecated but unskimmed juices. With this intent different percentages, based upon the estimated weight of the contained sucrose, as the mostconvenient, although not, assuredly, the most rational standard of reference, were employed with the results which follow: Lignite, percent. on con- tamed su- crose. Juice filtered per oper- ation; BO-frame Croog press. I \\< proximate gallons). Average lime of one operation. (Approx- imate hours.) A v. joioe per per 84 horns. (Ap- proximate gallons.) Average jniro DOT Bquare altering air. l ; hours. (Ap- proximate gallons.) Maxima. Minima. Filtering, Lixiviating and emptying. 7.5 15 22.5 ISO 45 GO 2,800 2,000 1. 500 1,200 050 700 2,900 2, 100 1,000 1,800 1,050 800 8 6 4.5 :j 15 0.75 3 3 2.5 2 1.5 1 6, 880 5,466 8, CM 0 8,000 io, •_■::. '28. 3 •24.0 '24. 1 •27. 2 Tin* average juice per press and per Bquare foot of filtering surface, per twenty-four hours, stand calculated on the, basis of a 60-day con- tinuous ill ii. line, taking the average weigh! of the juice at 8.85 pounds per gallon, and its sucrose at i:;.\ per cent— for percents of lig- 101 nite upon sucrose contained inay be substituted percents of the same on the weight of juice or pounds of the former per 100 gallons of the latter, as exhibited in the annexed scheme : Lignite, per cent, on weight of sucrose in juice 7.5 15 Lignite per cent, on weight of juice 1 2 Lignite in pounds per 100 gallons of juice 8.85 17.70 30. 45 .60 3 4 6 8 53.10 70.80 The juices treated during the interval of this work remained, so far as could be ascertained, essentially uniform as respected adaptability to nitration, as, indeed, they have done up to present writing; being referred in this regard, occasionally, to an arbitrarily selected stand- ard by careful weighings of defecated juice, brown coal, and prod- ucts operated upon in observed times on tared paper niters. The analyses of raw juices for those dates which cover this series of deter- minations, as made in the course of diurnal routine work, are presented below. While they may serve for general comparison with the like as ob- served in other portions of our tropical cane belt, no relation has yet been noted to exist between the amounts of sucrose, reducing sugars or other known constituents of the juice, and the difficulties exhibited by this in filtration. In the latter regard it is not possible to say if that which has here been experimented upon fairly represents Louisiana's average. It would seem, indeed, to be otherwise, since, in the treat- ment of scums, great difficulty is reported to have been experienced in almost, if not every, other local factory possessing filter-presses, while at this no other process of manufacture was throughout so satisfac- torily performed. D»te. !i a. in. 3 p. in. y p. in. B / m I - g 1 - c e z p. K ■ 'o DO 4 1 2 - 3 C0 5 a . c o - M - ~z £ 7 a i I - 1887. | Dec. 1 8 7 0 10 12 11 15 if, 17 lit 15.80 L5.27 14.09 14.18 L4.06 14.43 I it,; 13 !"; II 17 15.03 12.il 12.1 12.3 10. t 10. 1 10 - 11. 7 11 :; 11. 7 12. l 11 0 1.43 1.81 1.27 1.52 1.62 l 45 l 06 73.81 1 1. 78 14.07 14.09 14.03 14.77 14.09 1 1 93 l 1.80 11.8 ll.o n. a 10.7 11.0 lt».7 11 .:. 1!.:: 11.:. 12 l 12. 1 1 25 1.09 1.47 1.50 L.50 1.51 1.88 1. 17 76. 16 71 12 79.60 14.43 14.91 14.23 12.0 11.7 9.7 11.5 11 2 1. 14 77. 12 L 91.2] l 84 1 .61 l.ta 14.00 11. 1 11. ti ll.;; A \ • i .i . riant caue, 27.5 tona [oirca) per acre, Mown prostrate September i*». 102 From these trials the resulting extremes, in round numbers, have alone been given. Variations in temperatures and in pressures, both with juice and displacement water; in density and completeness of defecation with the former ; in perfection of cake and lixiviation sought, as in other similar variables, some premeditated, others at times uncontrollable, render, as will be understood by a trained experi- mentalist like yourself, absolutely definite and thoroughly ironclad figures quite out of the questiou. The average amounts of juice put through given filtering areas in fixed times have, however, in fact, most nearly corresponded with those presented as minima. In general, it may be safely said, the most satisfactory filtrations were uniformly of juices slightly acid only, 180° F. {circa), underpres- sures which, initially low, were most gradually increased until, at finish - ing-off, 6*0 pounds per square inch had been attained. Neither reason- able increase of pressure nor higher temperatures than these availed perceptibly. Boiling after the addition of the lignite produced no good result later in filtration, when intimate admixture of matrix and liquid had been maintained. Of displacement, or the depletion in sugar of the cake, more will be said hereafter. Utterly at variance as the coal percentages and time volumes indi- cated are with promises which had preceded the process to this country, they proved as persistent as they are disappointing. From 30 to 45 per cent, on the estimated crystallizable product present were shown over and over again to be the smallest of coal consistent with reason- able amounts of work done in given times, with given filtering areas, whether by the experimental or the working apparatus. Upon this last from one to three consecutive defecators, of exceeding 1,300 gal- lons each, were repeatedly essayed. Separate treatment of skimmed liquors and their scums did no better in the aggregate. Those sub- stances which peculiarly interfere with filtration appear to be removed only in minimum degree with the skimmings and sediments. Were this otherwise, separation and recovery of juice from the latter by filter-pressing, as now practiced, would scarcely be feasible. It was the same whether with a lime, a sulphurous acid and lime, a lime and phosphoric acid, an acid sulphite of alumina, or an acid albumen defecation, under the Willcox patent; and with these reagents in all proportions. Tannic acid extracted coloring matter from the brown coal, as did phosphoric and some other chemicals, without facilitat- ing filtration. The use of lignite in alkaline solution is forbidden by its solubility in such. Basic lead acetate showed no better effects with the small press than the rest. Carbonatation alone succeeds, and this, as you told me, requires no lignite. Repetition, later repeated, with foreign lignite prepared under .Mr. Ivleemann's individual Supervision and furnished by your department, as also with native coals obtained from the Louisiana Sugar Experiment Station and other sources, com- minuted at home, aggravated the disappointment. All degrees of pul- verization were tried. The amounts filtered seemed tolerably constant for Stubble and plant -cane juices and for juices from freshly cut canes, and from those many weeks windrowed. From old land cane they did doubtfully better than from new; those deteriorated as a frost effect not altogether so well, perhaps, as those not so injured. With cane freed from its adhering ccrosin, by sand-papering prior to crushing, it went do better. Butts showed no decided superiority to middles and tops. In all eases the lilt ered juices, whether from skimmed liquors or scums or the two treated without previous separation, whether from high or low percentages of brown coal and with whatever defecating agent em- 103 ployed, were exceedingly bright and clear from the first until running had quite ceased altogether. Another disappointment, however, awaited inquiry into the actual improvement as to parity secured. The expo- nent, on the average, was raised not materially to exceed one per cent, of total solids attributable to the coal, exclusive even of sweet-waters. A few analyses, taken at random from the laboratory records, sufficiently illustrate this. In every case the non-filtered and filtered samples rep- resent, as nearly as practicable, the same juice, b'or the large presses these were taken in equal volumes at the discharge openings of defe- cators and presses, respectively, at intervals of three minutes, always so as to represent by pairs identical defecators of juice and identical defe- cations, before and after filtration, which, lollowing adequate admixture of each series, as obtained from individual defecators, were re-sampled. This was permitted by the admirable arrangement of the coal-mixing receivers,which contained, each, precisely the amount from one defecator, and which were filled and emptied alternately in rotation. The effect of a thorough cake washing, the sweet-water being mixed back propor- tionately with the filtered juice, of which it was the after-product, is shown in the last two analyses. Defecated, not filtered. Filtered, 30 to 45 per cent, brown coal. o A H 0 3 « *2 6 d Date. ~ *i 3 a 2 2 a 3 Remarks. m - 9. e - a per cent of Lignite on the weight of sugar present, no commensurate effect was observed to i>" produced In the direction of increased purity by the addition of further quanti- ties. This fell off verj Blightlj or not at all, however, as nitration pro- ceeded towards its finishing point, as also more or less in lixiviation, depending, as seemed shown, upon a lower or higher percentage ol coal employed. Believing the application of the process to Louisiana juice, condemned by th< ive quantities of lignite ton ml essentia] to suf- ficiently rapid filtration and by its failure to realise a higher gain in purity, before reaching conclusive knowledge of these minutia 104 should be said these have not since been accorded that systematic in- quiry which, otherwise, they would have deserved. As decolorizers of saccharine liquors, either dilute or concentrated, certain brown coals are, on the other baud, surprisingly effective. In the table annexed are given to the nearest per cent, the color repeatedly removed from defecated juices, by varying percentages of the article furnished by your Department, referred in each series to standard sam- ples prepared from the defecated juice dealt with by mere passage through filter paper. This paper filtration is a necessity, since suspended matter, lighter in color than the mother- liquor, partially by preventing the transmission of light through this last and partly by itself reflecting light, gives invariably, in simply subsided juices, a tint too light by a number of degrees. The percentages of color removed were uniformly measured by the relative length of columns made to give the same tint as the untreated standard when contained in tubes of like glass, of caliber such as to avoid a decided meniscus, and with light of equal in- tensities transmitted from below in lines parallel to the columns7 longi- tudinal axes. Lignite, per cent, on ' weight of Length of Per cent. columns mm. color removed. sucrose. Unfit ere d 5 28 64 10 36 72 15 50 80 20 64 84 25 80 88 30 92 89 40 100 90 50 112 91 In the foregoing tbe juices were treated nearly to neutrality with lime alone. With sulphurous and phosphoric acids, acid albumen, acid sulphite of alumina, or even a decidedly acid lime defecation, the per- cents. removed were, of course, reduced, there being a less intense pri- mary tint. No other lignite gave such high effects as that furnished by your Department. This will be seen from the accompanying approx- imations, obtained with from 22.5 per cent, to 25.0 per ceut. of lignite on the weight of sucrose filtered, expressed in maxima and minima to the nearest 10, sulphur fumes having been used on the juices — the sir- ups not having been treated with coal prior to concentration. Lignite, where obtained. Sangei hansen Machine Woi I lilHUV Unit i -ii ii tmenl of A.jp Icnll lire, in. pan •' better adapted to displacement, again was attended with too serious a loss of time, both in finishing off and in subsequent lixiviation, to com pen sate the advantage in sugar redeemed <>r evaporation avoided. Pressures in excess ot" loo pounds per square inch are, besides, not feasible in industrial practice. A single industrial run of twenty-four hours was finally made .lanu- uary 16th and 17lh with brown coal, with intent primarily to develop and locate any unforeseen mechanical difficulties incident to continuous work. Numerous such arose, of course, each happily, however, suggesting at once its own certain remedy. If, technically, this large effort was not as satisfactory as might have been anticipated from the painstaking ar- rangements made for and well-organized ami precise management ac- 107 corded it. it was yet successful beyond all expectation in solving those problems which must ever attach in cane juice work to the application in filter-presses on a considerable manufacturing basis, of any matrix whatever. It removed at a stroke all necessity for the yet more ex- tensive operations which, as you know, had previously been proposed. It is needless here to weary you with the details of this day's run, which, with its antecedents rather than with its consequents, demonstrated conclusively, as is believed, that while the filtration of the entire body of defecated juice thus, with brown coal, stands well among the mechan- ical possibilities, its application can by no means now conceived with us be rendered remunerative to the Louisiana industry. This your dis- cernment will already have made quite as clear to you by what precedes, as it can by any present comparison between the weights and polariza- tions of its resulting products and those customary to the establishment in its treatment of like raw materials. Such data, indeed, await your command, but indicate to me no variation in rendement beyond that at- tributable to the accidents and incidents common with every-day factory experience. There occurred nothing of the oft and persistently pre- dicted clogging, either of pumps, conduits, presses, or cloths. The cloths at the end of twenty-four hours showed no loss of transmitting power, and were washed with surprising ease. In quality of products, no doubt, some advantage was recognized to accrue, bone-coal not being employed in the factory. Notwithstanding, in this particular also, disappointment was felt. In no other respect than this, surely, did the results of this experiment compare even favor ably with those secured by Mr. G. L. Spencer, in 18SG, with the Retu- rners and Williamson wood-char process, under the patronage of your Department ;it its Magnolia Station, as these stand officially reported in your Bulletin No. 15 (pp. 20-25, inclusive). So much more effective lias vegetable char than brown coal been shown also in our own work, both as ;i filtering ami as a defecating agent, that, having abandoned the lat- ter altogether, experimentation since several weeks with the former, in a laboratory way. with seed-cane, has now been in seemingly successful progress here. The following is not an unfair comparison, 80 far ac perience yet teaches, bet ween the two articles applied to juices somewhat deteriorated by long storage of canes: Matrix required ■ hi reighl <>l' sa- Inmro\ eiin'iit of . . purity coeffi- I>""l<>n/"t.on olent. •ulphured. 0 to 12 ■ to L90 i :.u to a to ia w : < ii.ii Lignite pre ents other disadvantages, as well, in comparison with wood charcoal. Upon concentration to sirup, jaice filtered with what- ever percentage of it. whether reduced with the low temperature vacuum evaporation or under atmospheric pressure, gives invariably an additional precipitate of matter probably rendered insoluble BOlelj by the increase of density. No such precipitate has at any time, with anj defecating agent, i>«'<-n observed alter nitration with wood coal. How weak i^ ite absorptive power, beyond that for coloring matters, is shown by the faet that, after nitration through paper alone, an improvement of but 0.03 in the exponent was secured to simps from the ordinary lime 108 defecation by subsequent treatment with 30 per ceut. of the liguite. Below are the averages: [Concentrated in double effect. J Sirup. Solids. Sucrose. Glucose. EJP°- nent. Glnooee ratio. After primary nltrat i o n through paper After subsequent treatment with 30 per ceut. lignite . . Rise in purity coefficient 57.60 62.70 47. 2 51.4 • 4.5,-) 81.94 4.76 n nn :>. M Although when freshly grouud, and yet containing from 30 to 35 per cent, of hyroscopic moisture, it can be readily brought to mix intimately by mechanical means with the juices, this is scarcely to be accomplished in the large and regular quantities required if, having been long pre- pared, desiccation to 15 or 20 per cent, has not somehow been prevented ; in which state, if sufficiently comminuted, it excels not only the kneading requirements of patent flour fourfold but becomes even dangerous from liability to spontaneous combustion. This infers the necessity for a grinder on the premises, with engine, foundations, sifters, elevators, mix- ers, shafting, belting, and their like ad libitum, in a structure apart from the factory building proper, which last would needs be protected from the attendant dust, as another serious sugar making complication and care. Such a plant has been estimated, by a probably competent European engineer, to cost, for a 60,000-pound diurnal output, erected upon this property, exclusive of the presses and their immediate appurtenances, but inclusive of building, not less than $10,000. Wood coal can, on the other hand, safely be prepared during the leisure of idle months, at home or elsewhere, and be mixed in the greatly reduced amounts called for, as wanted, with the most simple and inexpensive devices or be stored without injury or danger from season to season. Even wood char, however, for satisfactory filtration, should also contain a con- siderable percentage of moisture when ground. Otherwise the first run of liquor is likely to come charged with the char, requiring reflltra- tiou. It appears that this, unlike lignite, may be rendered in part too pulverulent, which last the enforced presence of sufficient moisture at the time of its reduction is believed to prevent Brown coal, again, is not known to exert even a favorable mechan- ical action on the soil's productiveness j that wood char exercises valu- able functions in this regard is well understood among agronomists. If in the ordinary liltei pressing of scums and sediments well-nigh the entire fertilizing content of the juice itselfia already secured, leaving no credit tor such properly to be conceded to either, fortius mechanical ad- vantage of charcoal something may well be deducted from its estimated first cost to manufacture. It presumably absorbs from the juice, also, fertilizing material in excess of the brown coal, equivalent to the addi- tional rise it secures in the exponent of this. The aggregate bulk of brown coal required would be such as might well preclude economic dist libut ion over t he fields. Considering the quality of the uative brown coals as yet examined, the cost of transportation, and, if imported, the duty upon such enor- mous quant itiea of these ;t- are demanded, the price of vegetable char, it appears, should compare most favorably with them throughout the 109 Louisana sugar belt. Brown coal, in sugar work, demands also a royalty under letters patent ; the patents upon wood char, in this application, have been permitted to lapse. Brown coal can not be revivified. Wood char, it is believed, can be reburned by superheated steam in any state of comminution, if found desirable. It remains to be known from the dis- tillation of which variety of wood, however, the best quality of the last- named article for the purpose proposed is to be obtained. As saw-dust, oak is known to perform best, probably because of its excess in tannic acid. As of application with whatever matrix employed it is pertinent only to add, as a further result of our experience in the matter, a few convictions touching the appliances best suited to the treatment of juice in considerable volumes. The advantage of duplex, double-acting plunger pumps, extra large for their duty and operated at low-piston speeds, with exceedingly ca- pacious air vessels and sensitive safety-valves placed close to the pumps, the last of equal conducting capacity with the feed-pipes, was fully in- dicated. To thus insure, by every means, against sudden variations of pressure, such, especially, as the vibratory pulsations inseparable from ordinary pumping plants, seemed essential to a cake of maximum uniformity and uniformly well adapted to lixiviation in all its parts, as before insisted. With the lixiviating apparatus itself this complete- ness in erection is even more prominently to be indorsed, except that, as no grit is here to be encountered, piston-pumps should sullice. A continuous stream of liquid running from the safety-valves, both juice aud lixiviating, should be maintained during operation. In the most perfect practice no approach to theoretical displacement has been found to occur. This supplementary process is, unfortunately, at the most we have been able to make it, little more than has been expressed with the word lixiviation. Whiting aud highly colored liquids render its study facile. The absolute necessity to the process of chamber presses, whether top, bottom, or central feed, and, conversely, the total unsuitability of frame-presses in general to it, was left in no doubt. Each operation consumes so short an interval that a Large percentage of total time is spent in emptying. A chamber-press can be emptied readily in one half the period consumed by one of the frame variety for the same num- ber of cakes. As the cloths need be removed not oftener than twice a week the loss from this source, in employing such, is negligible. It is not true that cloths wear most rapidly from use in chamber presses, ex- cept these be ill constructed. The tendency during lixiviation which the water exhibits, however this be fed and no matter how superla- tively perfect the cake is, to cut of itself a ready and continuous chan- nel about the cake's peripheral joint with the iron frame, has been men- tioned. This results in a sludge formed along the cake's feather edges which, upon opening the press, runs more or less, despite the best effort, down the dame's sides, especially along its bottom portions, com pro mising the joint Which this afterwards makes with its adjoining cloth Following three rounds with brown coal, such a pros can' not he made tight and after four or live may even refuse to close, except the sin be laboriously cleansed with iron scrapers. In chamber presses (he peri- pheral joint is made between cake and cloth and not between cake and iron. From this fact, alone it is far more perfect lis form, however, if properly designed, is of yet greater importance and, presenting no longer uecessai iiy a line of least resistance, reduces the chance of sludge, besides insuring, other things equal, a more uniform ami complete dis« 110 placement with reduced quantities of water by preventing the forma- tion of such water channels as those before described. If, by any chance, a small amount of semi-liquid material here runs in like manner, notwith- standing, this interferes in but half degree with a press joint now made between two thicknesses of the fabric instead of between iron and one such. Although in top and bottom fed chamber presses the liquor inter-ports of the individual chambers may be of greater diameter than those possible with frames, yet from liability to obstruction the center feed is to be preferred. Any filter-press constructed for the use of brown coal or any of its congeners should be recessed for 1J instead of for 1 inch cakes. This statement will not remain true except that in all cases the wisdom of employing the matrix in excess in confirmed. A yet greater thickness in these might then perhaps prove still more advantageous were it not the limit at which, in such presses, the cloths have been made to stand. Without attempting an explanation of the fact it remains that with chambers of increased thickness higher results per square foot of filter- ing area are attained, this dimension even doubled, curiously enough as it would seem, requiring but a very small fraction more of time for cake completion than before, so long as a slight excess only of matrix is in each instance employed. This is best illustrated in starch manufact- ure. Speed in filtration is, then, increased by this innovation, except for deficiency of matrix ; a relative reduction in the amount of sweet- water to be dealt with is secured and proportionate time is saved in emptying. Since it consumes no more time to empty thirty chambers presenting 400 square feet of filtering area than thirty aggregating but 220, presses of the former size should alone be used for the purpose under consider- ation. Such are decidedly cheaper in first cost per square foot of filter- ing surface ; are as readily handled and kept tight, and require, propor- tionately to the work done, fewer laborers. They occupy scarcely more space. The presses should be worked in batteries after the English plan, instead of by rotation, as practiced in Germany. This avoids a fall of pressure, with consequent loss of time and a cake ill suited to lixiviation in the other active presses, when one freshly prepared is set in operation. It also permits, which is of much consequence, low pressures at the start, which are gradually increased to high at the finish — a practice precluding all attempt at governing the pressure at the pump's throttle by an attached pressure regulator. A precipitate invariably following evaporation, by whatever means accomplished, of juice filtered through brown coal, the filtration of sirup was accorded some study. For this purpose from lli to 15 per cent, of lignite on the weight of sugar operated QDOD was found neces- sary to satisfactorily rapid work, previous treatment notwithstanding. Again the improvement in purity was not marked, averaging 0.82 j that in color being the more conspicuous result, at about 40 per cent, of this removed. For sirups from unliltered juices the ratio of lignite had, of course, to be increased until percentages approaching those employed with juice had been attained. Equal amounts would probably have been necessary, in terms of sugar, exeept for scums removed and some S to 10 per cent. of the juice itself already filtered with these, decant at ion of clear liquor from skimmings not having been practiced. Mere bulk, thus, in the filtrate, was seen to exercise no perceptible influence in this work, 'flic dilution of sirup by the addition ot water in any amount can, of course, Ill in no wise reduce the quantity of coal required, which is determined alone by the quantity and quality of non-sugar dealt with. Neither the net result in purity nor in color was equivalent in filtered sirup from unfiltered juice to that secured in unfiltered sirups from filtered juice. The glucose ratios of sirups first filtered as such were always considerably higher than those of unfiltered sirups derived from filtered juices of like quality. It is supposed that by the filtration of juice — though this is left in all cases more acid by the process — certain active inverting agents are re- moved, thus reducing the losses otherwise sustained in concentration. The brown coal also removed an amount of reducing sugars relatively larger than that of sucrose lost in the operation, the glucose ratio being almost uniformly lower after than before filtration, whether of juice or sirup. The ash is also reduced. Not above 530 gallons of sirup from unfiltered juice could be put through a 30 frame Kroog press with 25 per ceut. of brown coal on the weight of its sucrose at one operation, this, complete, occupying about four hours. A I -inch frame or chamber was found ample in the treat- ment of sirups, but even for this work 400-foot presses, it is thought, would be preferred. Thinner frames would be necessary with reduced percentages of lignite. Lower pressures than those mentioned for juice gave the more satisfactory results, which, also, should be extremely steady. The cake from sirup filtrations following that of the juice, with or without lixiviation, when mixed with the amount of fresh coal necessary to bring the total of this to the usual standard, was iound to perform about as well on a fresh Supply of juice as an equal total of fresh coal, the amount of the latter being thus proportionately reduced. In prac- tice this would obviate the difficulty of sweet water from the sirup filters. Wood char was given no trial in connection with concentrated liquors. The whole subject of s'rup filtration, in filter presses, merits more thorough investigation than circumstances have vet permitted at this factory, although success with such can scarcely supplant the far greater necessity tor previous treatment of the juices. Experiments, by no means exhaustive, were also made with the Bauer process. This tailed from the first The mucilaginous impurities, pass- ing through the interstices of the bone char, reached and occluded at once the pores of the cloth, thus bringing operations to a speedy ter- mination with every trial. The cloths were washed with great difficulty. To fully meet every prejudice, the entirely inut ile use of various fabrics was resorted to. With bone-black, from coarse to finest, the result was always the same. Indeed, as is well known, animal char in sugar work is an extremely poor filtering medium, no matter how skillfully revivified, and except for the preliminary Taylor or bag filtration could Scarcely be used after the manner or in the per cents, at present com- mon, except upon the highest centrifugal goods, even in the refining of sugars from which the major portion of QOn-SUgar has already been removed, npOU the plantation, in scums, sediments, and molasses — sub- stances which are yet left remaining with us in our treatment of juices. It is imperative with this article, in our work at least, that it he used in quantities quite beyond the utmost ability of filter-presses to accom- modate. Notwithstanding the meager results as yef secured, eventual suc- cess in the economic mechanical filtration <>f ihe entile body of defe- cated juice Is not altogether despaired of. Its difficulties have been greatly underrated. All the juices thus tar dealt with have been tno product of milling under pressures attaining from 65 to 78 percent. 112 of these upon the weight of canes crushed. So successful throughout has been the routine work in this establishment with skimmings and settlings from all manner of canes and with many modes of defeca- tion, and so small has been at any time the immediate improvement in the purity co-efficient attributable to it, and yet, by comparison, so easy and rapid a second filtration, as to have forced a conviction that in but an exceedingly small part of the total non-sugar resides well nigh the whole difficulty. This probably minute portion of espe- cially refractory material has been traced, as an insoluble, suspended impurity, to raw juice direct from the rolls, which presents in the filter practically all the perplexities encountered after defecation, and may be followed thence quite to the molasses. The microscope has not identified it at 100 diameters. Fermentation fails to remove it. Al- though itself probably inert and harmless, it suffices to render most diffi- cult or altogether impossible a process which, in effecting an immediate improvement, if only of several points in the exponent, would yet suffice before the by-product was reached to add directly or indirectly a de- cided increment to the otherwise possible rendement. Your success in filter-pressing carbonated diffusion juices this season of 1887-'88, at the Magnolia Station, leads to the hope that this small part, whatever it may be, is either in great measure eliminated from the artificial juice by diffusion, or else is amenable to chemical treatment (other than carbonation), such as it is reasonable to suppose will not escape ade- quate research. In either case the benefit to accrue would become im- portant to the local industry, the substitution of osmosis for pressure in juice extraction by large central factories now seeming as if eventually inevitable. It is proposed by the proprietor that the investigation of this subject shall continue at this place uninterruptedly throughout another season. At his desire I express the hope that it may not be impossible with you to detail a chemist from your department to aid in this search for an improved defecation. It is not to be overlooked how, to the present, your department, in pursuing its inquiries with respect of sugar manu- facture, has neglected altogether the sulphur regimen universally found in Louisiana's practice, excepting only at its previously chosen station. With much respect, sir, I am yours, very truly, W. J. Thompson. Dr. H. W. Wiley, Chemist, U. S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D. 0. ILLUSTRATIONS. Fig. l. Ensilage catter ased at Fort ocott for cutting cane into convenient lengths for cleaning. FlG. I {his). View of cutter used at Fort Scott for preparing the pieces of cant- after cleaning for the diffusion battery. 2. View of the top of the battery at Tort Scott. FlG. 3. View under the battery at Fort Scott, showing ear for removal of exhausted chips. FlG. b Outline of apparatus used for cutting and cleaning cane and preparing it for diffusion at Rio Grande, New Jen Fig. 5. View of diffusion battery ased at Rio Grande, X~ Historical sketch of sorghum plant 21 Hughes, H. A., report of t>7 cost of sugar factories estimated by W I. Improving the seed *J [ngalls. Hon. J. J., letter of transmission to 97 Inspector, Prof. B, B. Cowgill appointed as W Introductory letfer 3 Inversion ocsngai in the diffusion cells 3i in battery, prevention of * N. K lee man. l'., experiments on lignite by M L. Lawn-nee, L.i,, experiments at " Louisiana BUgSJ experiment station, native coals obtained from 1"2 Lett eis patent -ranted to M. Swenson J»[ Liebold, S. A.. A Co., erection of Borghnm factory by •* Lignite, report on, bj w. J. Thompson JJ experiments with, by W. J. Thompson JJ I'. Kleeman QSe of, in Louisiana ' } expel line lit-, Wltll. Oil SOIghUIll ' 117 Page. Methods of analysis in sugar work 44 Mill and diffusion, comparative yield by 9^ O. Optical method of sugar analysis Ottawa, Kans., report of work done at 23 P. Parkinson, Hon. W. L., report of, to board of directors 26 Plumb, Senator, labors in behalf of an appropriation by 23 Q. Quantity of juice drawn from each cell 9o Remmers & Williamson, wood char process of 107 Rio Grande, N. J., experiments at 67 summary of chemical work at 71 S. Sandys, R. M. & Co., erection of sorghum factory by 21 Sangerhaiiser Company, cutter built by 81 Ifaschinen-fabrik lignite imported from 100 Scientific work, need of, in sorghum factory 41 Scowl], Prof. M. A., factory of 22 Schulze, Ernest, assistance rendered by 82 Scums and sediment, disposition of 90 Season of working sugar, Length of 51 at Bio Grande 69 selection, improvement of sorghum by 48 Sieg, R., assistance rendered as consulting engineer 96 instructed to build cutter 82 Skimmings, disposition of, at Fort Scott 36 silo, analysis of juiceof cane, kept in 52 Frank Stroback's experiments in keeping cane in :»1 storing cane in 51 Sims, William, secretary of State board of agriculture, instructions to Prof. E. B. Cowgill by 19 Sorghum, can the farmer make his own sugar from 56 available sugar in 10 cane, comparison of, H ith Louisiana < a no 47 how far it may DC hauled crop of Rio Grande 68 indtist iy, needs of 13 future of 50 in Kansas 18 seed, crop of 89 Spencer, <;. F., experiments in lilt ration by, in L886 107 in charge of lime-kiln and carbonatation apparatus Stammer. l>r. Karl, text book of SOgai making by M Mate of Kansas, encouragement of sorghum indusl ry, by Statement of facts submitted to the Attorney-General by the Commissionei of Agriculture 83 Sterling Simp Works, exp riments in air evaporat ion at :.: St roba«- k, Fi auk, experiments Ul keeping cane in silo, by 51 Sugar factories, oapaeitj of... i | estimat., i coal of, by II. A. Hughes making, outline of process of S] Planters association, reports of oommittee ohosen by 78 refineries t*> Bwenson, M . letters patent granted to. report of 118 T. Tage. Thompson, W. J., experiments by, on lignite 91 report on lignite by 99 Trial runs with sorghum '. 9 W. Warmotb, Gov. H. C, paper read before the Planters' Association, by 92 aid rendered by .*. 96 Weber, Professor, factory of 22 Wiley, Prof. H. W., experiments with diffusion in 1833, by , -J.' Wilkinsou, J. B., jr., assistance rendered by 96 Y. Yaryan quadruple effect, used in diffusion experiments 88 Yield of sugar from sorghum, average 10 obtained at Fort Scott 49- IIVERJ LORIDA 3 1262 09216 6684