boiled by the aid of steam. When suffi- 

 ciently tenacious it is poured into coni- 

 cal molds, and when solidified the stop- 

 pers are removed to allow the 

 treacle to drain off. The loaves from 

 the molds are then sugared, as it is 

 called, by pouring over them a satu- 

 rated sugar solution, which, by slow- 

 ly percolating through them, carries with 

 it coloring matter and other impurities 

 without dissolving the sugar crystals. 

 When a saturated aqueous solution of 

 sugar is allowed to cool slowly it forms 

 large, beautiful crystals known as sugar 

 or rock candy. Caramel is burnt sugar ; 

 it has a peculiar odor and loses its sweet 

 taste, becoming bitter. It is used largely 

 as a coloring agent for coloring liquids. 



Sugar has innumerable uses. As an 

 article of food it is not surpassed, 

 though it cannot support life alone, be- 

 cause it contains no nitrogen. It is the 

 important ingredient in candies, pastries, 

 sweetened drinks, etc. Molasses and 

 treacle are much used and must not be 

 confounded with the sorghum molasses 

 made from the sugarcane of the Central 

 States. Molasses and treacle sometimes 



have a peculiar and to many a very ob- 

 jectionable flavor, due tp impurities pres- 

 ent. 



Molasses, as well as treacle, when fer- 

 mented, gives rise to rum. The popular 

 notion that sugar is injurious to teeth is 

 without foundation. It has no action on 

 teeth whatever. If anything it has anti- 

 septic properties and preserves the teeth. 

 It is, however, undoubtedly true that the 

 excessive consumption of sweets, pastries 

 in particular, is bad for the digestion, as 

 externally manifested by a dirty complex- 

 ion and skin eruptions. As a whole sugar 

 by itself is not injurious; it is an excel- 

 lent food, a heat producer and easily as- 

 similated. Americans, especially the 

 American youth, are the great sugar con- 

 sumers of the world. 



In medicine sugar is employed to dis- 

 guise the taste of disagreeable remedies 

 and to coat pills. It has no direct cura- 

 tive properties in disease. 



Description of plate : A, plant much 

 reduced ; B, stem portion with leaf ; C, 

 inflorescence; i-6, parts of flower. 



Albert Schneider. 



DEATH OF THE FOREST MONARCH. 



Hark ! heard you that wailing cry, sad and low? 



A nation mourning for their chief ? 

 Stricken and dead he lies, and blow by blow 



Is being stripp'd of limb and leaf ; 



Now from his corse is ta'en the wreath, 

 His just reward for battling many a year 



'Gainst elements ; mourn him ! your grief, 

 Ye trees, becomes the time ; the world should hear 

 Your requiem, and for him drop a tear. 



Each year the wild bird built its nest 

 High in his crown, and would its young uprear : 



Centuries supreme the Forest 



Monarch ruled ; but to Earth's broad breast 

 That nourished him, the ax brought his return. 



The Forest Monarch is at rest ; 

 All nature, save the human, seems to mourn. 



—George W. H. Phillips, Jr 



96 



