The
mangle in question was part of a patent washing apparatus which Mr.
Hardy had brought with him from England, and consisted of two
strong iron rollers, kept together by strong springs, and turning
with a handle.
"I do think that the mangle would do, Clara," Mr. Hardy said, "and
we are all much obliged to you for the idea. I had thought of the
great washing copper for boiling the sugar, but the mangle
altogether escaped me. We will begin to-morrow. Please get all the
tubs scrubbed out and scalded, and put out in the sun to dry."
"How long will it take, papa?"
"Some days, Ethel; we must only cut the canes as fast as the boiler
can boil the juice down."
The next day the work began. The canes were cut at a level with the
ground, the tops were taken off, and the canes cut into lengths of
three feet. They were then packed on a bullock cart and taken up to
the house. They were next passed through the mangle, which
succeeded admirably, the juice flowing out in streams into the tub
placed below to receive it. When all the canes had been passed
through the mangle, the screws were tightened to increase the
pressure, and they were again passed through; by which time,
although the juice was not so thoroughly extracted as it would have
been by a more powerful machine, the quantity that remained was not
important.
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