330 



Corn-Stalk Sugar. 



Vol. VI. 



which succeeded best with me after trying 

 several others, both higher and lower. A 

 higher concentration would have been better 

 were it not that the syrup contained some 

 substance which prevented speedy granula- 

 tion. After standing some time, this foreign 

 matter was removed, probably by deposit, as 

 the crystallization, though tardy, has gene- 

 rally been very complete. If Mr. C. (as he 

 strongly insinuates) possesses any more defi- 

 nite knowledge on the subject, I should be 

 glad to hear it, and hereby call upon him for 

 the information, which he will see the pro- 

 priety of giving over his signature in full. 



Should the manufacture of sugar from corn 

 become a business of importance (of which 

 there can be no doubt) it may be interesting 

 to know how it originated. -• The discovery 

 that a larger quantity of saccharine matter 

 might be procured from this plant, if it was 

 prevented from bearing grain, was made by 

 M. Pallas, in 1889, and by myself in 1840. 

 It was equally original in both cases. This 

 was the first step in the business, and it ap- 

 peared at the time to be all that was neces- 

 sary for success. But from experiments made 

 on a small scale, it appeared that only 100 or 

 200 pounds of sugar could be procured from 

 an acre, corroborating the result obtained by 

 M. Pallas, who states that corn treated in 

 this way " contains crystallizable sugar in 

 quantity very often double that obtained when 

 the plant is allowed to mature with the seed ;" 

 60 that the only remuneration for sacrificing 

 the grain, is an increased portion of sugar 

 just equal to that which might have been 

 procured had the ears been left untouched. 

 There is no evidence that the investigation 

 has ever proceeded beyond this point in 

 France, the small yield having perhaps proved 

 discouraging. 



1 have found that the quantity of sugar 

 produced on a given space of ground, is in 

 proportion to the number of stalks cultivated 

 upon it, subject of course to certain limits. 

 Knowledge of this fact is necessary before 

 the first discovery can be applied to any prac- 

 tical purpose. This was plainly stated in 

 the essay, but it would appear not " plain 

 enough" for Mr. C. 



The extracts published in the Cabinet con- 

 tain no directions about the planting and cul- 

 tivation ; — those who undertake the business 

 without some information on these points, will 

 not succeed; and although the simplicity of 

 the thing may be sufiicient evidence to Mr. 

 C of its unimportance, it will be found that 

 attention to it will make all the difference 

 between success and failure. 



The ridiculous story about the toddy-mak- 

 ing Indians, has been shown to be totally un- 

 worthy of credit, which Mr. C. has admitted, 

 yet he again brings it up, and appears deter- 



mined to identify himself with his authority. 

 This is a very unfortunate association for 

 him; but as the Scotch proverb has it, "A 

 vvilfu' man maun hae his ain way." Opposi- 

 tion on this point being fruitless, it will not be 

 attempted. 



In conclusion, I would remark that I have 

 no objection to criticism or discussion. When 

 conducted in a proper spirit, they can lead to 

 none but good results. The preservation of 

 good-humour, however, is all-important, and 

 should be particularly attended to. Whether 

 Mr. C. has paid due regard to this, or whe- 

 ther he has not, your readers can determine. 

 His first essay contained a charge of false 

 pretensions, and in his last the accusation was 

 reiterated. This course does not appear to me 

 to be the one best calculated to foster friendly 

 feelings, and lead to temperate discussion ; I 

 answer that the charge is not true ; but Mr. 

 C. may reply that this is also a false preten- 

 sion, so that his argument on this point is im- 

 pregnable. Cowper's consolation under such 

 unanswerable attacks, shows true philosophy ; 



A moral, sensihle, and well-bred man 

 Will not affront nie, and no other can. 



A charge against one's veracity it is impos>^ 

 sible to answer in words, and for that reason 

 there is an impropriety in making it. Let 

 each one gain the best character he can by 

 his actions, and in all discussions confine the 

 dispute to matters which can be settled by 

 words. Wm. Webb. 



Woodland, near Wilmington, Del., June ]st, 1842. 



P. S. TO THE Editor — 



Bear Sir, — 1 should be glad to offer you a 

 welcome to Woodland, whenever other en- 

 gagements will allow you to make the visit 

 We have not much to show, but perhaps there 

 may be enough of something else to make it 

 agreeable. Your knowledge and experience 

 in this sugar business would be of the highest 

 importance to me, and I would like very much 

 to avail myself of them. I cannot close with- 

 out saying a word about the " Farmers' Land 

 Measurer" — you have truly done the " State 

 some service" in its publication. The careful 

 cultivator will find it first agreeable, then use- 

 fill, and at last necessary to the satisfactory 

 carrying on of his business. If all who need 

 the book will buy it, the demand will be very 

 great. Respectfully yours, 



Wm. Webb. 



It will afford us real gratification to be of service U 

 our interesting and amiable young friend ; the reader 

 of the Cabinet are much indebted to him forhisarti 

 cles on the exciting topic of which they treat. W( 

 hope he has a good breadth of corn under cultivatiot 

 the present year, and that the season will prove propi 

 tious for the fulldevelopement of the experiment. Maj 

 perfect success attend his patriotic e.iertions, and i 

 corresponding rich reward. Editoh. 



