The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1858-04-01
Recent Discoveries.

In our late exchanges we find two scientific dis
coveries relating to sugar and the castor oil bean
both products of our kingdom. The first is from the
Scientific -4mericaa, a most valuable weekly sheet,
devoted to the arts and sciences, which every prac-
teal artizan or mech anic cannot well afford to do
without, after having once seen the paper:
ssSUGAR MAKING.-Some recent improvements in
the process of making and purifying sugars consist
in applying to the juice n saturated mixture Of alum
and lime, in the proportion of two pounds of the mix
ture to a hundred gallons of the juice. These being
intimately mixed, the acid is to be neutralized by the
application of milk Of lime, in the proportion Of three
pounds to hundred gallons. If there be an excess
of acid, it will be discovered by the application of the
test paper usually employed by chemists to detect
acids, and more milk of lime must be added; and if
there be an excess of alkali, it may be discovered by
the application Of the test paper used for detecting
alkalies. and more juice must be added. When the
mixture ceases to affect either the test for acid or
alkali, the impurities will be precipitated, and may
thus be separated; and the juice thus purified is to be
subjected to the usual mode Of Qualification and con-
centration. Pure raw sugar is now obtained direct
from the sugar cane, without having undergone any
subsequent process of decolorization or refining, pre-
pared by efecting the last stages of the concentration
of the cane juice in a vacuum, at n temperature insult
fcient to produce any chemical changes in its consti-
tuent parts. By this improved and scientific process
of manufacture, no molasses or uncrystallizable sugar
is formed, and there is, hence, an increase OF 70 per
cent. in the quantity of sugar obtained"
The other extract referred to. describing a new use
to which castor oil can be applied is from Hunts yMer-
chants Magazine of January. Even at the present
price which castor oil command in New York, 80 to
95 cents per gallon, its manufacture here, where it
grows so abundantly, must be attended with ONE
profit. But should the demand for this oil be in
creased, the profit attending its manufacture would
doubtless warrant the outlay of capital in this king
dom. The duty on castor oil in the United States is
Is per cent, while in England it is free:
"NEw USES FOR THE CASTOR On OF COMMERCE.
The cultivation OF the palma-christa plant, which
produces the seeds from which castor Oil is pressed,
has been somewhat extensive in this country, partic-
ularly in Illinois; but, owing to the limited use Of
castor oil, the demand has not been large enough to
warrant extensive planting. But its application to
other purposes may increase the demand and make
its cultivation proftable-as it would be at 81 a
bushel for the seeds in many places south of latitude
400, up to which point the plant natures without
much danger of frost. and although it grows much
larger further south, it does not afford as great q
yield in Mississippi as it does near the northern limit
of its growth. New uses for castor oil have been dis
covered in France. M. Berris, q French chemist,
declares that it is applicable to a great many indus
trial purposes to which it has not heretofore been con-
sidered applicable. He says
"By distilling castor oil upon concentrated potash,
the sebacic acid and caprylic alcohol are extracted as
separate products, which may be turned to a good
account The sebacic acid, having q high melting
point, may be empl Eyed, instead Of stearic acid, in
the manufacture Of candles, and if it be mixed with
stearic acid, the hardness and quality Of the candles
are greatly improved. and in appearance they resem-
bic porcelain. 1t is possible to use caprylic alcohol
in all the purposes to which ordinary alcohol is Put,
particularly in illumination. and in the composition
Of varnishes, and from it certain other compounds
may be derived, Of remarkable odor, similar to those
which are 1t present largely used in commerce.
The French people expect that this discovery
win prove of great advantage to the farmers in Alge-
ria. since they can produce from Z given quantity OF
land three times as much castor oil As they can palm
oil, and twics - much Of palm oil, both Of which pro-
auctions afford good compensation to the cultivator.
Shall We not make II equally profitable IN this
country ?,