Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1857-10-08
(Frorn the Chicago Press.l
Sugar from the Chinese Cane.

Sugar FROM the Chinese Cane.
fHf QUESTION OF cRYsTALiZArIoE SETTLED.
We have seen it stated that not less than
O hundred thousand acres have been deso-
ted 10 Chinese sugar-csne in this country
The present season. The experiment Of
manufacturing sugar and molasses from il,
therefore, will be tried on scale sufficient
iy large 20 determine the whole question
Of its value for such purposes. There are
fields OF it in every state and territory in
the union, and from various quarters. both
at the north and 'he south, we hear that
the crop is approaching maturity, and that
preparations are being made to r"1nuiarture
sugar. II has been extensively planted in
our own state, aid some specimens which
have fallen under uUr notice exhibit an ex
traordinary growth. gentleman from
Champaign county left sevtrii thrifty stalks
with us yesterday from ten to twelve feet IN
height, which were full OF juice that TO the
taste was as rich as saccharine matter a
that Of the proper sugar-cane. and OF mos
delicious flavor We have not the least
doubt that it would yield superior article
of sugar. We are iso in possession OF
seyera. stalks fully ten feet in height from
the garden of Mr.. Ii. D. Stone, OF the lake
shore.
But while the grand experiment Ct sugar
growing in the temperate lati;udes approach
es its elimination, multitudes are IN doubt
whether pure, well-cystalzed sugar can be
made from the juice OF the Crinese cane -
For ourselves, the evidence in the afirma-
tive is entirely conclusive on this point
Such is the verdict of tie best French chem
lists, whose testimony has been recently
communicated to tie patent rflice, and Will
be given to the public in the forthcoming
report of the commissioners. Some of the
results Of these experiments have already
appeared in the Press, and others are lying
before ue now, from which we propose to
draw a few additional facts.
One class of chemists, among whUm is
DR.. jackson, of Boston, have assumed, as
the result Df their hasIy experiments that
enly glucose, OF grape sugar, ,uld be made
from the juice Of the sorghum, but more
careful and thorough investigations show
that the greater portion of its saccharine
matter is crystalizsble. n. Herly of France
contends that nn uBcrysializtd sugar pre-
exists in the cane, and that the formation
of glucose sugar is oay owing to the action
of the salts contained in the liquid dur ing
che manufacturing process. BE it as it may
continues the report, lit is certain that the
greater portion of the saccharine matter OF
the Juice is crysializable, and NAV be OBJ
tained in the state Of crystals. if, after rapid
boiling end fltering, The f,id be quickly
evaporsted, the latter operation being
condition of absolute necessity in sugar
making, as, by slow boiling, at a tempera-
ture of IL degrees, or even exposure for a
considerable time TO a temperature below
the boiling point, glucose may be formed
from the finest crystalized sugar dissolved
in water. On the contrary, if the concen-
trated solution of sugar be heated beyond
$50 degrees, F., it undergoes alteration, and
il changed, at least in part. into uncrystali-
zuble sugar, or saccharine mucilage."
Mr.. Wray, OF London, who is now in at
tendance upon the National Fair at Louis
vile, and who has perhaps more experiment
al knowledge upon the subject than any
other man in the world, is quoted as good
authority by the commissioner on the ques-
tion Of crystilizstion, and We presume ID at
the experiments which he is now making
from day to day will be equally conclusive
upon the public mind He has devoted
years TO the subject, pursuing his inyesti-
cations in Africa and France, as well as in
this country during the present season, and
has obtained patent for his process of ma
king sugar in England.
Assuming, then, that superior sugar can
be made from the juice of The sorghum, it
is hardly possible to exaegerate ills imPor-
tance.ss an addition to the crops OF the
temperate latitudes. Its value was discov-
cred at just the period when The culture OF
the sugar-cane at the south had become
partial failure, and when arso the general
consumption of sugar began to outurn pro-
Gaction. The world demanded that by some
means, if possible, the supply should be in
creased, and in response to that demand
rs il by providential arrangement, The coun
try was supplied with the seed of the Sor
ghum and the Imphee, from which we are
to have our first harvest OF free labor sugar
II is great event in the political economy
of this country, if not of the world. We
pay out annually many millions of dollars
for foreign sugar, the crop Of Louisiana at
best meeting but friction Of The demand
Last year it was estimated that the nation
consumed not ,css than 700 900 900 pounds,
and this amount, vast as it is, must continu-
ally increase if a sufficient supply can be
obtained. In tie Chinese sugar-cane We
are now confident we have the source Of All
almost unbounded supply. 1t will flourish
everywhere in :he union, and can be raised
at the west as easily and cheaply as corn.
Where, then, shall We fix the limit of its
culture save in the demand for sugar and
molesses! The praires of Illinois. besides
growing all the bresdstuffs they do now,
might almost supply the markets of the
world with those articles. We shall be
content, however, for the next two or three
years with enough OF each To meet the home
demand.