The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1864-09-13
CHINESE CANE SYRUP
From the Columbia CuIoliHian.

cane is manufactured, have thought II pest 10
give that inform alton through the public prints
To comprehend properly the method of making
syrup or sugar fron the juices of any OF the canes
ur milIets, it is necessary Cperhaps indspensabiy
sul 10 have diagrams to illustrate the arrangement
of the boilers, and the several processes ny which
the Juice is passed from boiler to another, until
i, is finally received into the coolers. We may
bay, III general terms, that no attempt should be
made to eyaporate the juice, SO as TO reduce 1t to
LAG consistency of syrup, until the juice has been
first thoroughly defeated or purified. But how
this process Of DELEGATION first, and Of evaporation
afterwards, is to be conducted-and especially how
il is to be conducted with the greatest economy of
Line aud fuel aud labor-cannot, [ am persuaded,
be property comprehended without plates before
the eve Ieprescutiug the BOILERS ami the tu1nace,
aud tue other arrangements vi the boiler room.
To boil syrup, or sugar, successfully, and with
economy in the above respects, requires at least
three boilers, five would be better,) regularly
graduated in size capacity, all artistically en-
bedGed in brick-work to the surface of their rims
or tianges.
In the first place, then, let it be observed that
the common mistake by which tho syrup is spoiled,
and afterwards becomes worthless by fermentation,
is the rapid boiling of the juice at the begin
r,ng by which proper DELEGATION is prevented.
Or. as [ have heard the method by. which they
proceed described, 'put the juice in the kettles
and boil away fast you can" No good syrup
can be made by such practice. The juice should
never be allowed to boil until it has been we'll pu-
rified by Swimming. 1t should be allowed only to
simmer briskly whilst the impurities coming to
the surface These impurities will soon begin to
appear in the form of scum upon the surface,
which, if it be not removed, Gas it ought to be at
the beginning OF the process,) will increase in
thickness until the coating will be as thick two
or three folds OF blanket. Let it remain in that
condition for short time, unskimmed, regulating
the fire, meanwhile, as to keep up brisk SIM
lner Be careful not to make the juice boil rapid
ly since much ebullton will break up this coating
of scum upon the surface aap,,.nx it up again with
the body of the juice below: whereas, by simmer
ing, (more or less briskly,) the impurities
thrown up gently from the bulk of the juice,
that upon coming in contact with the coangs Of
scum upon the surface, they remain there, without
risk of being carried below again. The advanta-
ges then of TAT trst) simmerlng, and not boiling,
and of leaving the scum on the surface until 1t
forms thick coat, two-told-the trouble and
time of constant skimming are saved-time which
can be usetulIy employed in other work about the
boiler room; and next the DELEGATION goes on more
rapidly and successful when the impurities they
rise to the surface have something to fasten them
selves to.
In due time this coating of scum is TO be taken
eway with the skinner. The period indicated for
through the coatings of scum. Skim it off then
as rapidly as convenient, and continue TO skim as
fast the scum arises 1t is at this point that
The advantages of having three more boilers be-
gin TO be felt, in the economy of time, fuel and la
Dor II there be but one boiler, the fire and con-
sequentlv the boiling only be gradually in
creased, until the impurities graduarly brought
70 the surface and caught there they appear;
Whereas if there be boilers, the juice can be
meta raH no hIokoo Crofco
removed from boiler No. | to boiler No. 2, nearer
rhe fire, when this skimming can be carried on;
whilst boiler No l is filled with fresh juice from
the mill, to undergo the slower process of simmer
ing as Just described.
The impurities in the juice having been skim,
med off in boiler No. l, or finished in No. 2, Gf
there be more than one boiler,) the work of defe-
cation may be said to be accomplished The work
of evaporation now begins. The fire may be now
increased and the juice boiled as rapidly as posi-
BILE until the syrup acquires the proper density
This will be indicated (f the party have no sugar
thermometer by dipping up little Of the syrup
IN spoon. or, what is better. immersing the edge
of plate in the boiler, judging by The ropiness of
the syrup as it falls from the edge A few trials
and little experience will teach this better than
any description which | eau give. | would only
suggest in passing, that the ambition of the party
should be not to make much syrup. but syrup of
hest quality; and that therefore it should be boil
ed to destiny which, when cold, will be of the
consistency OF best honey He will, by this
means, have procured something which AilI keep,
and not a sort of sweetCncd water, which will run
into termen IA ton before the bloom in April
If the party have four, or even three, boilers,
he can carry on the work of DELEGATION more slow
w. and, therefore, more successfully, than if he
have but two; by appropriating boilers Nos and
2 (Which tarthest from the fire. to that work;
and Nos. 3 and / (Which nearer or perhaps
immediately the furnacel to the work Of
evaporation.
Very great advantages, too, are to be derived
by having the boilers properly arranged in the
brick work, IN relation especially to three partic
ufars: lst. AS to their relative distance from the
furnace and from each other, In order to regulate
tie amount of heat which each should be subject
TO. I'd In SO adjusting their rims, or 1anees,
with proper basins (of brick work or clustering
around eaeh) aud with proper slope, that the boil
ing in the eVaporaors may be carried on without
restraint or tear of waste from boiling over. Sd
III relation to the passing of the fame beneath the
boilers, by such arrangements will secure the
greatest amount o. heat from the least expenditure
OF wood. But these explanations cannot we'll be
made Ineligible, as have before stated without
the aid OF diagrams, which it cannot be expected
that daily newspaper can furnish. In default of
this assistance the only alternative for any one de-
string so have their boilers arranged properly, is
to procure bricklayer who understands how to
do it.
i have said nothing about the use of lime in the
manufacture OF the syrup. | do~not regard it as
indispensable, CT even material, although use it
as means chiefly of precautiou against any acid