Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1857-09-11
CHINESE SUGAR CANE.
SUGAR OR SYRUP MAKING.

Simplest we nave heafd OF Us, 10 cFcsu tue
canes by beating aud rolling on table or
board with common rolling pin, catch
ing the juice in pan, aad boiling it down
in kettle. p6
Another: Cut up the canes very short
in a straw cutter, and put them into kei-
tie Of water and boil out the sweetness.
After boiling for time, the pieces are put
into strong bag, the juice pressed out,
and the whole liquid boiled down. Both
the above were tried last year.
Others will, this year, use the common
sugar-crushing mill, one Of which may be
found in most stores were sugar is sold.
Where these are used, it will be necessary
to crush the joints first by heavy blows
with a hammer, and then run them through
two or three times, moving the rollers
nearer together each time.
A wooden crusher may be made By tur-
ming out two wooden rollers, say 5 or 10
inches in diameter. These may be placed
together in two pieces of plank, and a
heavy long crank be fitted upon the end
of one Of them. To keep them close t0-
gether, hole may be made edgewise
through the planks, and taperins wedge
driven in over the two ends Of the upper
roller. Driving this in will bring the rol
lers down. 1t will be necessary to have
a long crank, made strong, in order to get
power enough to press out any con-
siderable portion of the juice. 1t will
also be necessary to break the joinrs first
with hummer. As a matter uf course,
none of these simple eoutrivsnces will ex-
tract all the juice, but they may be adopt
ed where but small trial is contemplated.
Iron rollers and considerable power is req
uisite for economical extraction Of the juice
10 any but limited experiments.
BOILING THE SYRUP.
For the smaller experiments alluded to,
the juice may be boiled down in a COM
mon brass, or even iron kettle. 1t is i'm
por,ant to pu, the juice to boiling as soon
as extracted, as it soon commences souring
on exposure to the air. In all cases, a
little milk of lime, or lime water, should
be added to the juice, using about tea
pin, of water, to four OF five gallons Of the
juice.
The first heating should be slow until
most of the scum is removed, when it may
be somewhat rapid, but as the juice thick
ems, the fire must be lessenet, to avoid
burning. When a new portion Of liquid
is to be added to that already boiling, it
should first be boiled, and SKINNED in a
separate kettle, and be added hot. The
liquor should be SKINNED as long as any
scum rises. 1t will perhaps be advisable
to add half Of the lime after the main
scum is removed, and the remainder when
the liquid has become entirely clear
The degree Of concentration requisite
can be Judged of by trial. A little of the
syrup can from time to time be taken out
and cooled. The boiling should be con-
tinued until the syrup becomes quite thick
and ropy. 1t is yet mooted point whe'
,her the syrup will crystalize by simply
boiling down. Any one can readily try
the effect of condensing little of the syr-
up over slow fire until it becomes a
thick mass, and then set it aside to crysia-
lie, if it will do SO. A specimen Of thick
syrup, made at Hampstead, l.. l., and sent
to US last Fall, was left in tin box with
cover fitting loosely, and after drying du
rilg several months, distinct crystals Of
sugar collected upon the bottom and sides
of the box.
TINE OF CUTTING THE PLANTS.
The point of maturity at which the
canes will yield the greatest amount Of
saccharine (sweeO material has yet to be
ascertained. The experiments thus far
made, indicate that this period is just when
the seeds are ripcning, which is Indicated
by their assuming a black glossy color,
but before they become hard and fully
ripe. If cut at this stage, the seed eau
be saved without injdring the yield Of
Juice. The heads or seed panieles may be
taken off with foot or more Of the up
per stalks, as this part contains very little
sweet Juice. As soon as the stalks are
cut, strip off all leaves, which may be
saved for fodder, and crush the canes,
and boil the juice at once.
The seed may be stripped OF and clean
ed at leisure. This can be done with a
scraper or hatchel, similarly to broom corn.
On a large scale, it can be taken of by
running through common threshins ma
chine, or with fail. The seeds are ten,
der, however, and liable to be injured fol
planting, by too rough usage.
As to the future value of the Chinese
Sugar Cane, there will be abundant ex
periments on large scale this year, to
settle the point conclusiyely. These We