, 1874-11-18

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obtaining q better expression of juice from the
cane, however vital this Improvement to the very
existence of this Colony as q sugar growing coun-
try, hitherto the want has remained unsupplied,
and the defect in the system unremedied. At
tempts in this direction have, from time to time,
been made, but the results of these experiments
have not been encouraging. But it would seem
as if Mr.. Russell has succeeded where others
have failed, that he has solved what has hitherto
been an insoluble problem, and discovered a me-
thod by which the profits of sugar plantations
may be very materially increased,
1t appears that Mr.. Russell comm enced his ex-
p~eriments upon a very small scale, upon q scale
sufficiently small to allow an engineers vice to
be brought into play to extract the Juice from the
cane. By this method every particle of juice
was apparently extracted from the cane, and the
megass appeared to be perfectly dry. But ON
placing this same megass in the sun, and permit
ting it to lie for a few minutes and then placing
1t under a powerful microscope, the plates of the
much coveted sugar were seen to form in the rup-
tured cells of the cane. After this the megass
was put into hot water and then a second time
subjected to the Jaws of the vice, when it was
found that the water had taken up oil the sugar
from the megass, and on applying the necessary
tests it was seen that by this process of macera-
ton to is per cent. of sugar was obtained.
AS boiling water melts sugar much quicker than
cold water, hot water and steam are preferable
to cold water for the purpose of e~ffecting the
maceration of the megass in the shortest space
Of time.
Mr.. Russell having thus satisfied himself by these
experiments on a small scale that a considerable
quantity of saccharine matter can be obtained from
the megass by the process of maceration, his atten-
ton was naturally directed towards carrying out
these experiments on a large scale, and this he
has at length accomplished with very satisfactory
results. An application FOR 4 patent TO protect
the process has been made, AID we may here give
the results of a trial of the new process conducted
IN N Of tho hoSf QSfafpG in the Colony The mill
used exerted a crushing power OF 64.O5 per cent.
Of Juice, equal to 1920 per cent. OF sugar, and the
maceration process gave 2.06 per cent. juice on the
original weight of cane from the megass, making
in all 81 per cent. OF actual juice, and the water
of maceratiun added to this 2.06 of Juice gave 1863
per cent. of sugar, making in all 1889 per cent.
of sugar from the cane operated upon, or an addition
of SO per cent. upon the original 1920 per cent. 1t
is also maintained by Mr.. Russell that the macerated
megass is for the purposes Of fuel, equal to the
ordinary megass, and an experiment showed that
one punt of maCerated canes were suthclent to nre
a copper wall for twenty-seven minutes.
tits impossible to deny that if these figures of
Mr.. RusselPs are accurate, and there is no reason
to consider them inaccurate, important results to the
sugar interests of the Colony may accrue from these
experiments. That the results claimed for the new
process by Mr.. Russell will be disputed is certain,
but what invention ever escaped carping crti-
cism at first? The idea Of regrinding the cane,
which forms the basis Of Mr.. i&usselPs process, is
by no means an original one. Many years ago the
better extraction of saccharine matter by saturating
the cane with hot water or steam, was advocated,
but the ~experimenters appear to have arrived at the
conclusion that as the process entails the subsequent
evaporation of an enormous quantity ct water, and
consequent expenditure Of a propOrtionate unit
of fuel, it would be Improbable where fuel is scarce,
as it is on most plantations. We understand that
on one estate in Cuba some few years ago this
regripding process was tried, but from some cause
or other it was not persevered in. Of course it will
be a matter of calculation whether the extra guam
tny of sugar obtained by this new process of Mr..
Russell, is sufficient to cover the attendant expenses
such as the cost of the necessary machinery-tor
q separate plant for the maceration process will be
required on each estate-the expense OF the evapora-
ton of the water used to saturate the megass, the
expenditure required for fuel and extra.
These are questions which can only be answered
after practical trials, but that Mr.. Russell firmly
believes in the value of his invention, is sufficiently
proved by the fact that it is his intention to order
from England at once the necessary machinery for
two of his estates. There can be but one feeling
throughout the colony upon the subject, and that
is an earnest hope that the expectations that nave
been raised NAV be realized. If they are the conse-
quences to the colony cannot we'll be over-rated.' a
profit hitherto lost to the proprietor will be obtained,
and thus many estates now barely paying thelr eX'
penses may be made to return a handsome income
to their owners. Any how Mr.. Russell deserves
the thanks of the entire planting body, not merely
for having carried out the experiments which nave
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