The daily clarion. [volume] (Meridian, Miss.) 1863-1866, 1865-10-04
For the Clarion. J
Sorghum.
OXFORD, Mrs, Sept. %, 1865.

.r OXFORD, Mis-, sept. rs, 1000.
Mr. EDlroR.-The c;eaking of the cane
mills remind me of some observations on
the manufacture of Sorghum Molasses
which made last year. and which it may
not be amiss to publish for the benefit oil
those interested in ths subject.
1t has been a subject of much com
plant among the consumers of last years
sorghum molasses. that the article when
made by evaporatng and skimming the
juice, after awhile causes soreness of
the gums and throlt, and is especially OBJ.
noxious to dyspetcs. On the other hand,
it vas found, that wher clarified with
lime (of which usually too much is usedl !,
the syrup was very dark and of taste
unpleasant to mary; on which account,
the use of lime has generally been omit
ted in this section. But very little of
last years syrup, made with or without
lime, has failed toferment this summer.
On examination, ! found, as might be
expected, that when just the proper amount
of hnee, and no more, is employed in the
clarification Of the juice, and the green
scum which partly floats, partly settles
is no difficulty in obta;ng molasses of
the color and taste of WHAT'S known az
golden syrup" from any cane. ...' y
Nor is there any real difficulty in ascer-
tanning the precise amount of lime re-
quired, by the use of he red and blue
L''t"'ns paper usually employed by chem
lists to test the acidity ,r "alkalinity" OF
hulds. The fresh juiceturns blue litmus
paper red being ncid While lime water |
turns the red paper 6h1e being alkaline.
No" the proper amoun of lime to be
used in clarifying is jusl so much as will
neutral ze" the acid If the iuice. so
that 1t will not change the color, either
of the blue or the red paoer. 4
But lltimus paper is rot readily OBJ.
ainaole by our planters, however simple
is use when at hand. 1 have therefore
ought for method Which should be
everywhere, W which the
precise dose of lime of any kind to be
'sed in clarifying might be readily as.
ertalned and have found the follow.
ng simple rules which proves equally
pPhcaole to this years juice as to last
ears - - :
Put In the boiler rHREIr1rrus oF th
mount of juice it will CONAN, and when
early boiling, add to it sraduallv and
nile stirring continually, as much Of
ain milk of time" THAT is, lime slaked
ITO a smooth paste and ther stirred up
more waterl as will Just turn the :
ee"'sh tint which the juice at first ga.
'mes' into a distinct yeNow-the same .
nor which may always be noticed at the
'ot where the lime first touches the
Ice as 1t is poured in. Any moderately
'en'iVe operator can do this without
aing too much lime. On pouring intoI Il
juice thus stated, the remaining rwo- n
FrHs OF raw juice. the mixture show. v
effect on either color of test nara. &
t Is perfectly neutral"
The whole juice should then be heated
a simmer, when the impurities thrown u
oy the lime will partially rise .s
OK scum partially be disposed to settl. :
the bottom.
i mas been the usual practice of those i
9 nave used lime in clarifying. to boil 6,
SKIM the juice as they did the up -
rlnfd. But in SO doing, the benefit off
clarincatlon Is almost lost. for the
'urltles of the lined juice, being there. ii
rendered a'ier, will not rise to the
lace as they do in the unclarifed. .b,t Coz
lam diffused through the syrun and a,
eno' form in it Jumps resembling
2 winch are not only unpleasant to
paiate and eye, but render the mo
= Equally as liable to fermentation
souring' as Is that made of unclari6ed
@.
Abs
10 therefore necessary to separate a. Gre Or.
Il HOu t0e JuIc6 b fore. nyoaro.s Jon
In the sugar houses, this is done vS,v =
'ly by drawing off the clear in;cs
1t has been allowed to settle .h,o,,sS
, hole placed above the sedimen. seS
wing I" TO run off until the scpm
ing ON top just begins TO show At r. M
cork, which in the sugar house. is a.
J 's'srl'ying :, : ''1l pan" itself. but may quite
Ell be sttached to separate vessel :.
k or wooden cistern, into which b.