[Illustration: Fig. 2--DIFFUSION PROCESS--MANUFACTURE OF SORGHUM
SUGAR.]

The cutters are started, and cell 1 is filled with chips. This done, the
chips from the cutters are turned into cell 2; cell 1 is closed, and cut
off from the others, and water is turned into it by opening valve, c,
of cell 1 (see Fig. 2) until it is filled with water among the chips.
When 2 is filled with chips, its valve, a, is raised to allow the
liquid to pass down into the juice pipe. Valve a of 3 is also raised.
Now the juice pipe fills, and when it is full the liquid flows through
valve, a, of 3, and into the heater between 2 and 3, and into the
bottom of 2, until 2 is full of water among the chips. (This may be
understood by following the course of the arrows shown in the diagrams
of 9 and 10). Valve a of 2 is now screwed down; c is down and b is
opened. It will be readily seen by attention to the diagram that this
changes the course of the flow so that it will no longer enter at the
bottom, but at the top of 2, as shown by the arrows at cell 2.

It is to be observed that the water is continually pressing in at the
top of 1, and driving the liquid forward whenever a valve is opened to
admit it to another cell, heater, or pipe. When cell 3 is full of chips,
its valves are manipulated just as were those of 2. So as each
succeeding cell is filled, the manipulation of valves is repeated until
cell 6 is filled with liquid. After passing through six cells of fresh
chips, this liquid is very sweet, and is drawn off into the measuring
tank shown at p in diagram, Fig. 1, and is thence conveyed for
subsequent treatment in the factory. To draw this juice from 6, valve
a of 7 is raised to connect the heater between 6 and 7 with the juice
pipe. A gate valve in the juice pipe is opened into the measuring tank,