290 On the Uses of Sugar for faltening Cattle. 



the operation of that acid on sugar has been long known to 

 chemists. By its means two new acids are formed from 

 sugar, first the malic, and then the oxalic, acid, neither of 

 which would be of any use as food for cattle. 



" I mixed 112 grains of sugar with ten grains of common 

 alum. Here the sugar lost a great portion of its sweetness, 

 and acquired a disagreeable astringent taste. One cwt. of 

 sugar would require 10 lbs. of alum for the formation of 

 such a mixture, which would cost 2^. 3d, In this and the 

 last experiments the sugar might be completely restored hj 

 the addition of nitrate or muriate of barytes, which would 

 precipitate the sulphuric acid from the sugar in the one case, 

 and from the earth of alum in the other ; but as both these 

 are poisonous salts, no one would think of using them to 

 regenerate sugar for domestic purposes. 



« One hundred and twelve grains of sugar were mixed 

 with 20 grains of common salt. This proportion of salt 

 destroys the sweetness of the sugar, and renders it unfit for 

 human consumption. If government would allow the farmer 

 waste salt free of duty, of which a sufficient quantity may 

 be had at the salt-works, called the ' pickings of the pans,' 

 at 5*. or 105. per ton, it appears to me, that this would be 

 the most suitable, convenient, and ceconomical article that 

 could be used to prevent the sugar from being again brought 

 into common consumption. Cattle and horses are fond of 

 it, it is known to agree well with them, and there is no 

 cheap way by which the sugar could be separated from it. 

 Cattle are so fond of salt, that they will even devour large 

 quantities of marie if mixed with it. In America it is a com- 

 mon practice to sprinkle salt in layers upon hay when mak- 

 ing it into hay-ricks, and it is found to assist in preserving 

 the hay, and to render the cattle healthy. If it were thought 

 adviseable to mix it with sugar in this country, such a mix- 

 ture might be consumed in this way in large quantities, and 

 the mixture might be made by means of a cheap and simple 

 apparatus, similar to that employed by architects for mixing 

 their mortar, called a mortar cylinder-mill. 



" Should parliament not think it adviseable to allow the 

 fermer waste salt, duiy free, the salt contained in sea-water 



might 



