REFINING SUGAR. 175 



quantity of lime neutralized, and from tlie above proportion 

 the quantity of sugar present. 



If cane-sugar is to be examined for starch or grape-sugar, 

 one test is made as above, and another test in which the liquid 

 is heated to 212°, and then, when cool, tested with the acid. 

 The lime solution with cane-sugar becomes cloudy by heat, 

 but clarifies on cooling, while, if grape-sugar were present, it 

 becomes brownish-yellow, and requires much less acid for 

 neutralization. Indeed, a decilitre of starch-sugar solution 

 requires 4 cub. cent, of the test-acid, or just as much as lime- 

 water itself. Cane juice may be similarly tested after con- 

 centration to 6-8° Beaumd. (Le Technologiste, 1846.) 



One of the best means of determining the quantity of 

 cane-sugar present in a solution is an instrument for showing 

 circular polarization in liquids, a full description of which will 

 be found in a Report to Congress by Prof. R. S. McCulloh, 

 made several years since. 



Honey. — Soubeiran's (Comptes Rendus, 1849) examination 

 of honey proves that it consists of — 1. Glucose, or granular 

 sugar ; 2. A right-rotating sugar, alterable by acid ; 3. A 

 left-rotating sugar. In the original paper, the author has 

 given some distinctive characteristics of each, and promises 

 the results of further investigations as soon as completed. 



Purification of Honey. — Andre's method of purifying honey 

 is simple, and is said to be efficient. Three sheets of white 

 bibulous paper are doubled up and put into 25ft) honey, diluted 

 with half its weight of water, and the whole boiled over a 

 gentle fire, until the paper is dissevered into a pulp. After 

 cooling, the liquid is filtered through a woollen cap or cone, 

 and evaporated gently to the consistence of honey. 



Refining Sugar. — Much has been lately said, and some 

 patents issued (Lond. Journ. Sept. 1850) for clarifying and 

 defecating saccharine solutions by the use of salts of lead, 

 and ingenious processes have necessarily followed for removing 

 from the solutions every trace of lead. But we must express 

 an unqualified disapproval of all poisonous materials in the 

 preparation of substances used as articles of diet. The ma- 



