Report of the Agricultural Committee. 13. 



enterprising planter to form, after a little study of the 

 subject, and under competent professional advice, a pretty 

 fair estimate of their respective merits, and particularly to 

 satisfy himself of the great advantage of effecting final con- 

 centration of a low temperature. 



The Committee is besides sensible then the means are 

 wanting to enable most of our planters to have recourse at 

 this moment, even if they were so disposed, to these mo- 

 dern machines for bettering the quality, and increasing the 

 quantity of their produce: but until these are considered 

 desirable, and become available, there appear other less 

 costly ways of improving their produce immediately acces- 

 sible to them. 



In its report upon the Sugar Exhibition of 18i7, the 

 Committee adverted to the advantages which might be de- 

 rived from a judicious filtration oi the Cane liquor previously 

 to its final concentration. It is glad to learn, from various 

 quarters, that the views it emitted in this respect have the 

 support of several practical planters, and that the use of 

 filters is becoming more general. This is one of the means 

 immediately available to the planter for improving, at a very 

 moderate cost, the quality of his sugar. The others are : 



1<> A greater attention to the quality of the lime employ- 

 ed «as temper)) ; that now generally in use, as will be seen 

 from the sequel, being ill calculated for the purpose. 



2» A better mode of promoting crystallization than that 

 commonly followed, the effect of which is prejudicial to the 

 natural formation of the crystals of sugar, and causes them 

 to be small and irregular. 



3«> A course of «claircage» skilfully conducted on proper 

 principles, particularly in those localities where the Sugar 

 is naturally of an inferior quality. 



