ALCOHOL.— Field’s Alcoholometer.

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and extractive matter can bo ascertained. In testingwines, the specific gravity of the liquid is firsttaken, then the boiling point ascertained by the alco-holometer, and the corresponding specific gravitydeducted from that previously found by the hydro-meter ; the difference will, upon referring to TableII., show the quantity of extractive and saccharinematter in 100 gallons of the liquid. For example,if the specific gravity by the hydrometer be '989,and that by the alcoholometer shows the pres-ence of alcohol of C9 t ® t , whose specific gravityis '979 by the tables, deduct the latter gravity fromthe gravity of the bulk, or '989, and a differenceof ten remains, which number, upon reference toTable II., will give 25 lbs. of saccharine and ex-tractive matter in 100 gallons, combined with 30 t 4jgallons of proof spirit. Should the barometer beabove or below the standard 29'5, the thermome-ter scale will then only show the apparent strength,and reference must be had to the small ivory indi-cator, it being the counterpart of the barometricalscale of the thermometer; thus, if the barometerindicate 30, place 30 of the indicator against theboiling point of the liquid, and opposite the line of29 - 5 will be found the true-strength.

Example 1.—Barometer at 30.—Suppose the mer-cury to stop at the same point, 72 d.p. ; place 30 ofthe indicator against 72 on the thermometer, and theline 29 - 5 will cut G9'6 u.p., the true percentage.

Example 2.—Barometer at 29.—Suppose the mer-cury to stop at the same point, 72 u.p. ; place 29 ofthe indicator against 72 on the thermometer, and theline 29-5 will cut 74-3 U.P., the true strength.

To ascertain the strength of malt liquors and theirrespective values, the instrument has been furnishedwith a glass saceharometer, testing glass, and sliderule. Commence by charging the test glass with theliquid, then insert the saceharometer to ascertain thqpresent gravity or density per barrel, the number atwhich it floats indicates the number of pounds perbarrel the liquor is heavier than water:—

Example 1.—Suppose the saceharometer to float atthe figure 8, which would indicate 8 lbs. per barrel;then submit the liquid to the boiling test, with anaddition of salt to arrest the mercury at the trueboiling point of the liquid; now, suppose it shouldshow—the barometrical difference being accountedfor—90 u.p., that would be equivalent to 10 percent, of proof alcohol. Refer to the slide scale, andplace a on the slide against 10 on the upper line offigures, and facing b on the lower line will be 18,showing that 18 lbs. per barrel have been decom-posed to constitute that percentage of spirit; then,by adding 18 lbs. to the present 8 lbs. per barrel,the result will be 26 lbs., the original weight of thewort after leaving the copper.

Example 2.—The saceharometer marks 10 lbs.per barrel, and at the boiling point it indicates 88u.p., equivalent to 12 gallons of proof spirit percent.; place a against 12, and opposite b will be 21},the number of lbs. per barrel, which, when added tothe 10 lbs. present, will give a total of 31} lbs.

To ascertain the relative value. —Suppose the priceVOL. i.

of the 26 lbs. beer to be 36s. per barrel, and the 31}lbs. beer to be 40s.—to ascertain which beer will bothe cheaper, place 26 on the opposite side of the ruleagainst 36, and opposite 31} lbs. will be 43s. 7</.,showing that the latter beer is cheaper by 3s. Id. perbarrel. By this instrument the quantity of spiritper cent, in distiller’s wort, whether it be in progressof fermentation or ready for the still, is indicated,the only difference being in the allowances in thesliding rule. Saccharometers applicable to the fore-going rules for beer, ale, &e., have been adjusted atthe temperature of 60° Fahr., and will be foundsufficiently correct for general purposes; but whereextreme minuteness is required, the variation oftemperature must be taken into account, and forevery 10 degrees of temperature above 60°, three-tenths of a pound must be added to the grossamount found by the slide rule ; on the other hand,for every 10 degrees below 60°, three-tenths of apound must bo deducted.

For cordialized spirits the operation is differentfrom that applied to the testing of beers, which havethe alcohol generated in the wort. In cordials ofevery kind, the alcohol is the original, and the sac-charine matter, or sugar, is an addendum. If 100gallons of spirit are required of a given strength—say 50 per cent, under proof—50 gallons of proofspirit to which 50 gallons of water are added will beof this strength, and upon testing it by the alcoholo-meter it will be found as correct as by the hydro-meter. But in cordializing spirit, the reverse is thecase ; for to the 50 gallons of spirit, proof strength,50 gallons of sugar and water would be added,thereby rendering the hydrometer useless, exceptingfor taking the specific gravity of the bulk, and,according to the quantity of sugar present, so arelative quantity of water must have been displaced;and as the sugar has no reducing properties, thealcoholometer will only show the strength of thecordial in relation to the quantity of water containedin it, as the principle indicates, irrespective of thesaccharine or extractive matter. Suppose, inmaking 100 gallons of cordial at 50 u.r., 3 lbs. ofsugar are put to the gallon, or 300 lbs. to the 100gallons, these 300 lbs. displacing 18'G7 gallons ofwater, only 31‘33 gallons of the water, instead of 50,have been applied; the sugar, without reducingproperties, making up the bulk of 100 gallons, whichis meant to represent 50 per cent. U.P.

The alcoholometer will only show at the full pointof ebullition the alcoholic strength in relation to thewater in 100 gallons of the mixture, or 35 per cent.u.p., leaving 15 per cent, to be accounted for in thebulk. As the quantity of sugar present must bedetermined before that percentage can be arrivedat, a double object will be effected by so doing,namely, eliciting in all instances the quantity ofsugar present, as well as the percentage of spirit tobe accounted for.

Example.—Suppose the specific gravity of a cor-dial is 1'076, then submit the liquid to the boilingpoint, and having ascertained the percentage ofalcohol—35 U.P.— the specific gravity of alcohol at

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