The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1882-11-01
he Chinese as Sugar Makers.

The enterprise Of the Celestials is showing
itself Of late years IN the export Of sugar to
foreign countries Their methods Of treatment
with reference to both the cultivation Of the
cane and its after manipulatiuns are quite orig
inal, and may therefore interest our readers.
From the Journal of de Sociefy If Arts we
gather the following In planting they cut the
cane down, remove the tops and bind them in
bundles, and then strip the leaves of the top
cuttings. These cuttings are then placed in a
pond Of fresh water to soak for about twenty
days, and at the expiration of that time sprouts
fin. OF Sin. in length will have started from the
ioinis, when they are taken out Of the pond and
planted in rows about Aft apart, at an angle Of
about COZ. These are slightly manured with
bean cake "a local product) at the time Of plan
ting, and in ten months the crop is mafured
and ready fer harvesting. A second or ration
crop is raised from the roots BY the application
Of bean cake in a semi-liquid form; and when
the soil is exceptionally rich third crop is
taken from the same land. Asarule, however,
the roots are removed after the second crop is
cut, and the land is cultivated and MANFRED as
at first, cuttings again being put in.
When the cane is cut it is collected tito
bundles, and men OF boats convey II to the mill.
The mill consists Of two granite cylinders about
ST in length by Ism. in diameter, placed per-
pendicularly, the lower ends revolving in
stone socket, the upper In frame Of wood set
into granite upnghts Attached TO or let into
the upper end Of these cylinders are wooden
cogs, and to the end Of one Of these cylinders
is attached a strong wooden shaft or spindle, to
the upper end Of which is fixed strong cross
beam OF lever, and to the outer end is attached
the propelling power, which usually consists
Of four or Eve small oxen. The cane is passed
between the cylinders, the juice running down
into small trench, which opens into a recepta-
Gle in the ground holding about 20 or 80 gal
Ions the juice is then conveyed in buckets 10
the boiling pans near at hand, and the cane,
after being crushed, is taken away TO be used
as fodder. It is sometimes dried in the sun,
and il is used for fuel for boiling the sugar.
The boiling-Pans are Of cast-iron, the greater
part Of those used being made at Fat Shan,
about fifteen miles from Canton. They are about
Ism. deep by iff. in diameter, and are placed
IN brlckvoIk side by side, usually four in num-
Der, with arches for fuel underneath, all covered
with mat OF thatched shed. Three kinds Of
sugar are manufactured namely, "rock-candy,'
green sugar, and "clayed sugar" The rock
candy IS made as follows The sugar is placed
with Sufficient quantity Of water in a large
boiling pan, similar To the ones already des
cribed, and boiled down to the proper consist
eocy, which is ascertained BY putting small
quantity into cold water; if il hardens al once
It Is then time TO run it of into eartheu iars-
these Jars holding about 50lb. each. They are
always broken in three or four parts, and the
parts are then bound together with small
quantity Of lime, cement and few bamboo or
rattan hoops. The hot liquid is then put into
these broken iars, and network If basket
splints is placed over each, the ends Of the
er,fr 4.
the liquid 10 the bottom Of the Jar. 1.-THE tenn
eraiure is cold il viii crystaIlise IN about fifteen
days; if warm, il requires from twenty-five to
thirty days. As il cTystaIlises it adheres to
The splints, The portion not crystallsing settling
AZ the bottom. The jars are then placed with |
The bottom part tuned partly up over empty
ones to allow the m0lasses TO run out. Wk=i |
sufficiently drained, the Jars are removed, The |
hoops taken OF, and with small Ratchet the |
parts again broken asunder; the candy is then |
removed from The spliuts and spread out in the /
sun for short time 70 purify OF bleach. II il /
then assorted and packed into wooden tubs |
holding from sob. to 5ulb. each. Twoaualities |
are always found in The jars that at the hot /
tom being darker and Of less market value. Ths |
drainage from these jsrs Is reboiled. and a /
poorer quality Of brown sugar produced from
the refuse remaining amer this last process a /
cement is made b. mixing with lime. The pro-
'-ess pursued ID the Manufacture Of green
sugar is - follows The juice Is boiled n the
raonLh Of Decembers as il IL taken from the 1
cfnAbcrs IN buckets IN one cf he four inn boil
g-Eana man ism zttsndancr Who ponrs The
JUICE from one pan % the other. As soon a. he
liggle bells, small portion Of lime Is put in.
an1 tAe white q one OF two eggs Is placed IN
each pan Alter time che dirt and refuse
came o. the surface, WHICH IS aI skinnas5