a 



I 



A CHAT ABOUT SUGAR-CANE 9 



The colour of sugar is determined by its degree of 

 purity, absolutely pure sugar being white, or, strictly 

 speaking, colourless. The sugars made at beet factories 

 and cane mills are, as a rule, grey, brown, or some 

 shade of yellow from pale lemon to bright gold. Those 

 of yellow hue have been sufficiently clarified to be 

 sold for household use ; the greys and most of the 

 browns go on to a refinery, where they are melt-ed 

 and subjected to a more rigorous course of purification. 

 Water plays a very active part in the bleaching and 

 refining of sugar ; so does the " blue '* which your 

 washerwoman uses. 



CHAPTER III 



A OHAT ABOUT SUGAR-CANE 



I HAVE put the cart before the horse by telling you 

 about sugar-making before sugar-growing. But I 

 thought you would be more interested in the cultiva- 

 tion of sugar-giving plants if you first had a general 

 idea of how sugar in its familiar varieties is brought 

 into existence. 



In coming now to sugar-growing, let me remind you 

 that I said a short time ago, " sugar-germs inhabit the 

 sap of certain plants." From such plants I singled 

 out the sugar-cane and the sugar-beet as being the 

 main sources of supply, but before sketching for you 

 the life-story of the two dominant producers, I must 

 point out that there are other plants from which sugar 

 is made. Chief among the minor producers are the 

 sugar-palm tree of India ; the sugar-maple tree of 

 America ; and an African corn-plant called " sorghum,'* 



2 



