Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1858-01-23
Sugar from the Chinese Sugar Cane.

]
We have received from Joseph S. Lover
| ing, Oakhll, Philadelphia county, five differ
ent samples of sugar the result Of seven ex-
periments, made by him with the Chinese su-
gar.cane. Mr.. Lowering planted the seeds
/ last year, to determine the value Of the plant
in its sugar-producing qualities. First, he
I established, by polnrscopic observation, the
presence Of crystallized sugar in the cane,
and then be began his experiments, of which
( he gives q detailed account in a pamh,et
which he has published and to which we re-
fer those interested in the matter, our pur-
pose being to record only the general result.
The first experiment was discouraging one
and the dark visced mass stood six days with.
out the sign Of q crystal but being kept warm
four days longer yielded crop Of soft crys-
tails. The second produced yellow brown
sugar, as dry as and about the color of second
quality Cuba sugar used by retiners. For the
acre 625t lbs. sugar, aud 1899 gallons molas-
ses, produced from Is, las canes yielding ,137
gallons juice, weighing lbs. per gallon, or
ID, ,G33 lbs, being per cent, of sugar and
$50 per cent of molasses, or 1880 per cent
together. The third experiment was fail
ure. The fourth was very successful. produ-
cling 1,22l 50 lbs. to tue acre and 74,39 gal.
Ions of molasses. The ffth produced white
sugar directly from the cane without refining.
The seventh experiment was in refining, Snd
- lbs. of good loaf sugar were produced from
proceeds Of The experiment considered fail
ures
The cohclusion that Mr l.. comes to is that
an acre will probably yield l,4G6 % lbs of
sugar and 7I,30 galoas molassCs from l,SIT
gallons Of juice. The weather was unpropit-
uous to the ripening Of the cane aud probably
ten per cent, was lost in consequence, which
would increase the quantity 10 l,Gl2 lbs e.
sugar and 81 $40 gallons Of molasses, q yield
very nearly corresponding to the best conduc
ted Louisiana plantations. The best time for
sugar making is when the seeds are all ripe
and after several Erosts, the thermometer be-
low 30 degrees frost or hard freezing does
not hurt the juice nor the sugar, but warm
weather after frost does. Cune cut and
housed. or shocked in the field will probably
keep unchangeda n long while. When the
juice is obtained the process Of sugar making
should proceed continuously without delay
The Qualification should be as perfect as po
sible--bulocks blood and milk Of lime will
answer for Qualification, skimming being re-
quired constantly. The concentration and
boiling done after Qualification shoald be as
rapid as possible in shallow eyaporators.-
With these conditions secured it rs easy Mr.
L. says, to make good sugar from the Chinese
sugar cane as to make OF Of good mush,
and easier than to make kettle Of good ap-
pie butter These experiments, conducted
10y an intelligent gentleman, extensively en-
gagged in the sugarrefnirg business in this
city settle at once all question respecting the
production Of sugar from the Chinese cane,
and the value OF that plant to the agriculture
Of the country. They are ofthe most reliable
character, and coming from q person Of his
experience cannot fail to make strong i'm
preston upon the minds of all interested in
the culture Of the new plant. We return our
thanks to Mr.. Lowering for enabling US TO lay
his interesting facts before tie public.-PhH-
dde!phia Ledger