Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1850-08-31
Melsems' Improved Process
Making Sugar.

MeAseAs' improved Process O
Making sugar.
We understand that this method will be e.
| tensirely used the ensuing season, and it is
subject OF vital importance to many of our SUI
! scrIbers, we have taken some pains to ascel
tain the practical utility which is likely to ac
crue from the use of the bisulphite of lime
and from the responsibility of the parties from
whom our information is derived, we have ev
cry reliance that, in practice, our observation
will be found correct.
From the careful trials made during tn
close the last grinding season, by Mr. THo
| A. MORGAN, and several other planters of ex
perience, who took the precaution of procuring
pure bisulphite, it appears that the utmost con
hdence can be placed in the statements of Prof
MELsENs in his treatise. This treatise, oul
readers will remember to have seen in our co
lumns in both languages. We mention this
because the truth of his assertion that by his
process, if carried out to its full extent, the
whole of the saccharine matter contained in
| the cane can be converted into chrystalizable
sugar, has been called in question. And we
| are happy to find from some of these very ex-
periments, conducted with attention, in follow
ing out the instructions in the treatise, that a
very superior chrystailized sugar was the result
of the operation without any residuum of mo-
lasses. Nevertheless, we are quite of opinion
that, with the present sugar APPARATUS it will
not pay to carry the process beyond two crys.
talizations, with residuum ofsugar-house mo-
lasses. This will give largeeain in quantity
as well as quality over the present ordinary
lime process. s
One important advantage connected with
MELsEss' process is, that it adapts itself at
once to every form of mechanical apparatus in
use in this State.
The first business of the planter should be
to procure PURE bisulphite of uniform
strength, without which all the rest is of no
avail, and we are gratified to find that the agent
for the patentee has provided for this, by erect
jnga powerful apparatus for the manufacture
s0f the article here on large scale, to ensure
permanency and economy. 1t is the intention
also to sell the bisulphite att lower price than
itcan be had for anywhere else in the United
States. zz "a @&
In badly made bisulphite the principal impu-,
rites are hyposulphurous acid and free sulphur,
both highly Ideleterious to sugar and both OF
which impart to it a disagreeable flavor. The
pure bisulphite communicates no flavor or
smell, unless used in excessive quantities. The
inter therefore should be cautious in pur-
dsing from responsible parties. Trash
OF all been sent from the North, and
it is not lllkeIy that aone of it may find It's
way here.
Bisulrtits oflime, when chrystalized, or even.
concentrated, loses nearly its whole efficacy
from the escape of the excess of sulphurous
acid upon which its action in making good SUI
gar mainly depends. Some of our principal
chemists at the North tested this thoroughly
L
BILE to send it in fluid state, and compete with.
the price it could be made for here. Bsul-
phite, when of good quality, should be perfect
ly limpid and mark at least ten degrees on
BEAUME's Grometer. Such an article, with
ordinary skill, will produce beautiful sugar,
both as to celor and grain, and if a good pro-
cess of decantation be adopted, the result will
give still greater Improvement, than withuot
It. The eommonest kettle process will, per-
haps, derive most benefit from MELsEN's-hut
none should stop there, because the addition of
CHARTERS, and the means Of one decantation ats
"a to 25 deg. BEAUME, will give results that
will largely remunerate for the cost of such adj
ditions.
From past experience it would appear that
the quantity Of bisulphite used has been too
great To combine economy with effect we
should recommend from IL to 2 IL gallons
as = snmelenI 20 nea1 Inlce enough 70 MAKE :.
hno oI ~ sasaI, accololg 60 he qua,l1y o. me
zane ne M eos. esa galion q plsulpn'le WI
g Is .os os.l 9 ssn.s anu |, nus % =
.ns M JUICE - soon 'ss possible ailel = y
seu : =, .s.-, d 80 ..s.5+.t 49,
ms done, me juice VIII pc N n condlflo on
Io cnange' Is Ior inc blsulpnlIe pre-
FenS Ine lormalion q .all 1ermen.s-and p then,
sven Y .ns common ke11ies' proVlaed 1tey De
,et so tlak W. g'0,a can oe eIonghl 70 me poil
lelln e1. 1on, we pene1lt oI t1e bsulpnlte
q l'ae 81 :. asassalpl, wan oe az once appa-
Wy. - ccs.ss .ng.pleeess WI " SUI nlGfe
..ecsss. w,s - c.ts'1ea.ohis e . pe1glnsa "
'..;s,a' snu 1.s.aa sne Julce ~ aissI-