REPORT OF THE CHEMIST. 311 



DIFFUSION JUICES. 



The ratio of glucose to sucrose (per 100) in the diffusion juices was 

 as follows: 



Per cent. 



Before October 1 39. 95 



After September 30 68. 15 



These results show that before frost the inversion of the sucrose in 

 the battery was nil, but that after frost this inversion was very marked. 

 The fact is also emphasized by another, viz, that before frost the full 

 battery of 14 cells was used, but that afterwards 8, 10, and 13 cells only 

 were employed. Thus before frost the chips in the battery were longer 

 under pressure than afterwards, and I may add that the temperature 

 was also higher. These facts corroborate the statement already made, 

 that when once the process of inversion has commenced it goes easily 

 and rapidly forward under the combined influence of time and an ele- 

 vated temperature. Before such deterioration begins a temperature 

 of even 100° C. can be maintained for an hour without notable injury. 



A further fact which is illustrated by the analyses of the diffusion 

 juices from uninjured canes is that the diminished purity is produced 

 solely by the extraction of gum and chlorophyll, chiefly from the 

 blades and sheaths, and that this injury can be avoided by a proper 

 cleaning of the canes. 



With clean canes and those in which the sucrose is still uninjured 

 no alkaline substance will have to be used in the battery. When, 

 however, deteriorated canes are used, some such application will be 

 necessary to save the sucrose from further inversion. As has already 

 been pointed out, finely powdered lime or calcium carbonate evenly 

 distributed over the chips offers the simplest solution of the difficulty. 



WASTE WATERS AND EXHAUSTED CHIPS. 



The amount of waste water was very small, compressed air having 

 been uniformily used to drive the water from the cell next to be dis- 

 charged. 



In the estimation of the sugar the sucrose was first inverted and 

 the whole sugar estimated as glucose. The mean percentage of both 

 sugars in the waste waters after September 30 was .17 per cent. 

 Since the mean glucose per 100 of sucrose for the season was nearly 

 44, the respective quantities of sucrose and glucose were as follows: 



Per cent. 



Sucrose 11 



Glucose 06 



In the exhausted chips before October 1, by the same method of 

 calculation, there was of — 



Per cent. 



Sucrose 16 



Glucose 08 



After September 30 the numbers are as follows: 



Per cent. 



Sucrose 35 



Glucose 17 



This increase in the sugar left in the chips was was due to cutting 

 out a large portion of the battery, especially during the first week in 

 October. At this time often only six cells were under pressure, but 



