SUGAR.—Sugar Cane. 899

1st Running. 2nd Running. 3rd Running. Molasses.

but it has been transplanted to other soils, such

Sugar. 95-1 ..93- ..92 1 .. 50-9

as those of Sicily, the Canaries, the Antilles , South

Ash, . 1-41 .. 2-61 .. 2-76 .. 12'9

America, and the West Indies . It is known by its

Water,. . . 1-44 .. 2-72 .. 2-90 .. 19-0

thin, very knotty stem, and green leaves. The

Organic impurity,.... 2*05 .. 1*07 .. 2*24 .. 16*1

Batavian cane is a native of Java, but is met with

Elution . —One of the most promising and im-

at present in some of the sugar plantations of the

portant improvements in the manufacture of beet

New World and the West Indies ; it is covered

sugar that has been made for some time is the

with purple stripes, and has a heavy foliage. The

so - called elution process of Scheibler, as im-

Otaheite variety is spread over the West Indies

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proved and rendered practical by Seyferth and

and South America , and is esteemed by far the

others. The object of this process is to recover

richer and more productive of the several species.

the sugar contained in the stinking, black, almost

There are besides, the purple-banded and the purple

unsaleable molasses of the beet-sugar factory.

Otaheitan and the ribbon cane. The Bourbon is said

Good ground lime is added, little by little, to the

to be the same as the Otaheite cane of Singapore .

undiluted molasses contained in a vessel provided

The sugar cane in a state of maturity is usually

with stirring gear, in the proportion of 84 parts

from 6 to 15 feet in length, and from 1^ to 2 inches

pure lime for each 171 parts sugar (3 molecules

in diameter. It is jointed, and the distance of the

lime to 1 of sugar). Combination of the sugar and

joints from one another is from 3 to 7 inches. These

lime takes place, and heat is evolved. The granular

joints correspond to the extremities of hexagonal

mass which ultimately results from this opera-

cells, of which the intermediate portions of the stem

tion is then extracted with alcohol of 35 volume

are composed, and which are in the living state of

per cent., which dissolves the free alkalies and

the plant filled with a solution of sugar. The ex-

salt, and most of the non-saccharine organic bodies,

terior of the cane is smooth, hard, and cylindrical,

leaving tribasic sugar-lime in a tolerable state of

and is covered with a coating containing a large

purity. The alcohol used can be recovered with

quantity of silica. Germination occurs at the joints,

but little loss by distillation, and the sugar can be

and takes place at the opposite sides of alternate

(and is) obtained from the sugar-lime either by

joints.

directly saturating it with carbonic acid, or better,

The sugar cane grows from pieces or slips of itself

by using it in place of fresh lime for defecating

containing germs, and these develop rootlets at the

fresh juice. In practice about four-fifths of the

joints, which draw sustenance to the young shoot

sugar of the molasses is now won in this manner.

as it increases. In the course of time the buds in

Another method of winning a part of the sugar

the radicle, or root joints, of the first cane throw

of molasses: Dubrunfaut’s “Osmose process”

out roots, and form a radicle for a second stem ;

is at present attracting much attention in Austria

and in this way it happens, under favourable cir-

and Russia , where, as before explained, each

cumstances,. that several canes are produced from

pound of sugar recovered has a double value. It

the parent stock for a period of about six years,

depends on the removal of part of the salts

sometimes even for twenty years. From the first

by the help of their superior power of diffusion

and second year, however, the canes diminish in the

through organic membranes. In principle the

length of joint and circumference, and so the quantity

molasses are confined on one side of a sheet of

of juice decreases; but it is alleged that the juice is

parchment paper, and clean water on the other.

much richer than when younger, and also produces

Salts and sugar pass through to the water, and

a finer sugar. A common mode of obtaining succes-

water passes back to the molasses; but the salts

sive crops is as follows:—When an old cane has

diffuse more quickly than the sugar, so that, at the

been cut for its sugar, the incision is made some

end of a certain period, what remains on the molasses

inches below the ground, and the stump covered

side of the parchment is a diluted solution of mo-

with mould. In about twelve months’ time the

lasses, containing a smaller quantity of salt in pro-

offshoots from the original cane are ready for

portion to the sugar than originally. The removal

transplanting. In planting these slips or ratoons

of this salt does, in fact, allow of a fresh quantity

the system of wide planting is gradully superseding

of sugar to be extracted by crystallization, which is

the old close planting. In addition to the advan-

very direct proof that salts do interfere with crys-

tage which the former kind offers in allowing the

tallization of sugar, which has been denied. The

use of the horse-hoe for weeding, the great length

proportion of salts to sugar in cane juice, and sugars

of the root of the sugar cane, which often extends

made from it, is too small to allow of their profitable

laterally to a distance of 6 and vertically to a depth

removal by this process; and the glucose, which is

of 2 feet, makes wide planting imperative, when

the characteristic impurity of sugars from the cane,

rapidity of growth, as determined by quick absorp-

diffuses far more slowly than cane sugar itself.

tion, is required. The cane holes are advantageously

Manufacture of Sugar from the Cane. —

formed 5 feet from one another, in rows which are

1. Cultivation of the Cane. — The sugar cane —

also 5 feet apart; or, as some say, even 8 feet.

Arundo saccharifera —is an indigenous plant of the

Of late years the system of cultivation of the

gramineous family. Cultivators distinguish three

sugar cane has attracted considerable attention, as

great varieties—the Creole, the Batavian, and the

well in regard to the preparation of the soil as to

Otaheite cane. The first is indigenous to India ;

the manner of planting. Formerly the custom of

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