The basket wall has been variously constructed. In one case it
consists of wire wound round and round and fastened to uprights,
commonly known as the "wire basket;" in another case of a periphery
without perforations, but spirally corrugated and having an opening at
the bottom for the escape of the extracted liquid; in still another of
a series of narrow bars or rings, placed edgewise, packed as close as
desired. An advantage of this last style is that it is easily cleaned.

The best basket consists of sheet metal with bored perforations and
having bands or flanges sprung on around the outside. The metal is
brass, if it is apt to be corroded; if not, sheet iron. The
perforations may be round, or horizontally much longer than wide
vertically. One method for the manufacture of the basket wall (Pat.
149,553) is to roll down a plate, having round perforations, to the
required thickness, causing narrowing and elongation of the holes and
at the same time hardening the plate by compacting its texture. Long
narrow slots are well adapted to catch sugar crystals, and this is not
an unimportant point. Round perforations are usually countersunk.
Instead of flanges, wire bands have been used, their lapping ends
secured by solder.

As to comparative wear, it maybe remarked that one perforated basket
will outlast three wire ones.

As to size, sugar baskets vary from 80 inches in diameter by 14 in.
depth to 54 by 24. They are made, however, in England as large as 6
feet in diameter--a size which can be run only at a comparatively slow
speed.

A peculiar complication of basket deserves notice (Pat. 275 874). It