306 SORGHUM. 



The apparatus used by the author for making this solution of the 

 gas, consisted of a small-sized hot water tank for kitchen range, about 

 forty inches long and ^ten inches diameter. Into this, powdered 

 charcoal and oil of vitriol were put, and the sulphurous gas passed 

 through iron gas pipes into a wash bottle contaming oil of vitriol, and 

 from thence into a barrel nearly filled with water. A safety tube Avas 

 connected with the wash bottle, to prevent any possible rushing back 

 of the water into the generator in case of the withdrawal of the heat. 

 By this apparatus, a barrel or two of the solution may be made in a ' 

 short time, and at an expense of not over seventy -five cents per barrel. 

 For two barrels of the solution there would be required seventy-five 

 pounds of oil of vitriol and seven pounds of powdered charcoal. 



When the sulphurous acid is for immediate use, and when steam is 

 used, the use of the sulphur box is the most convenient form. This 

 may be easily constructed by anybody, and consists of a wooden box 

 three or four feet high and from two to three feet square, with ten or 

 twelve partitions, slightly inclined, and reaching nearly across the box 

 from side to side, so that the juice, entering the box at the upper end, 

 flows across the upper partition and, falling upon the second, flows back 

 under the place of entering, and then falls upon the third partition, 

 and thus, running back and forth over the partitions, and falling from 

 each in a thin sheet, is thoroughly exposed to the fumes of sulphurous 

 acid, which enter by a i^ipe, placed between the second and third parti- 

 tions from the bottom, from a small furnace of iron near the box, to 

 which the pipe acts as a chimney. Into this furnace small bits of roll 

 brimstone, or flowers of sulphur, are placed from time to time, the burn- 

 ing of which jDroduces the sulphurous acid. A sliding door to the fur- 

 nace determines the amount of air admitted to the burning sulphur, 

 and therefore regulates the rapidity of the combustion and the amount 

 of sulphurous acid produced. The draught to the furnace is joroduced 

 by a steam-pipe, which enters the sulphur box two or three jxirtitions 

 above that where the pipe from the sulphur furnace enters. 



Generally, it is found that from two to six ounces of sulphur are 

 sufficient for five hundred gallons of juice; so that, after having ascer- 

 tained the amount of sulphur necessary, the draft to the furnace may 

 be so adjusted as to give the requisite quantity. 



Six ounces of sulphur will give gas enough to saturate four gallons 

 of water at 27°C. (81 °F.) ; so that, if the solution is used instead of the 

 gas direct, the relative amount to be used may be easily ascertained. 



The treatment of the juice with sulphurous acid, and then leaving it 

 from six to ten hours in the settling tanks, has already been mentioned 

 as being successful in the removal of a large amount of impurities; 



