88 Experiments in the Manufacture of Corn-stalk Svgar. Vol. IX. 



be dispensed with, except to pass the juice 

 tliroug-h a coarse strainer to remove some of 

 the larger impurities. Some method will 

 be discovered by which all this foreign mat- 

 ter will be removed in the operation of 

 skimiiiing-. 



Boiling. — This operation requires care 

 and close attention, particularly when about 

 ready to skim, and when tiie juice is con- 

 centrated to about the point desired. The 

 more rapidly this operation is performed, the 

 more perfect will be the crystallization. But, 

 however necessary it may be, it is scarcely 

 possible, with any apparatus that I iiave any 

 knowledge of, to perform the whole labour 

 of cutting, grinding, straining, skimming, 

 and boiling, in the short space of one hour, 

 as recommended by Professor Mapes, of 

 New York. If this "is ever done, it must be 

 in very small quantities, ur some very im- 

 proved method nmst be adopted. 



In boiling, as soon as the scum begins to 

 rise, the fire must be regulated witlf care, 

 that time may be had for removing the scum 

 before it shall be boiled in. If the operation 

 of boiling and skimming be well performed, 

 about one gallon of thick heavy scum will 

 be obtained from a batch of fifteen gallons. 

 The syrup, when it becomes thick and near- 

 ly done, has a very beautiful appearance, in 

 every respect equalling the best of maple 

 syrup. To boil to the crystallizing point, — 

 whicli is a very uncertain one, — requires 

 considerable care and discrimination. The 

 same tests that are used for maple syrup are 

 equally applicable to corn-stalk; as for in- 

 stance, when it will flake oft', breaking short, 

 from a dipper or stick — or string out between 

 the thumb and finger, from half an inch to 

 an inch in length, is perhaps the safest test. 

 Very great care is necessary here, that it be 

 brought to the right point and no more ; and 

 also in managing the fire, as a little blaze, 

 or too strong a heat, is mos^ sure to scorch, 

 and this is flital to crystallization. 



Crystallization. — DifiicuUy has been found 

 here by all that have made experiments with 

 corn-stalk sugar; but perhaps every one has 

 obtained a sufficient quantity that was well 

 grained, to satisfy him that the difficulty 

 was somewhere in the process of manufac- 

 ture. 



From recent observation I am inclined to 

 think that I have kept my sugar in too cool 

 a place. Two small parcels, left partly by 

 accident where they received tlie warmth of 

 a fire, were found well grained. Eut there 

 is another difficulty after it is well crystal- 

 lized, to make the molasses separate, or drain, 

 «s it is called : although the crystal appears 

 .to be as fine as was ever formed, still the 

 molasses will not separate by any common 



methods used for maple sugar. As yet, I 

 have not been able to procure any better 

 specimen than that exhibited at the State 

 Fair. 



Awounl from the acre. — Although the 

 quantity of stalks v.as so much diminished 

 by the drought, yet six hundred pounds were 

 obtained; this, it should be understood, is 

 weighed when taken from the fire and be- 

 fore graining has commenced. If it were 

 all well grained and the molasses separated, 

 the weight of sugar would probably not be 

 more than five hundred, and molasses one 

 hundred. 



In order more fully to determine the 

 amount that might be produced from an 

 acre of good corn, I measured two square 

 rods of the best corn I had ; the stalks were 

 then cut, and their weight was 195 pounds; 

 after grinding, the juice weighed 69 pounds 

 and measured nine gallons; from this I ob- 

 tained twelve and a half pounds of sugar. 

 By this it would appear, that had the whole 

 acre been as good as the two rods submitted 

 to the test, one thousand pounds would have 

 been the produce. And it would seem that 

 this must be a safe calculation, as the stalks 

 on the two rods were not as large as would 

 be grown in a good season. 



\\\ equal amount by weight of large 

 stalks of rank growth, and small ones that 

 were grown thick, were ground separately; 

 but as no material difference was found in 

 the produce, my opinion is that the corn 

 should be cultivated so thick that no ears 

 will be produced. 



EXPENSE. 



For the rent of land, $3 00 



" thirty loails of manure is. per load, 3 75 



" drawing thirty loads manure ]0c. per load, 3 00 



" ploughing, harrowing and litting ground, 2 34 



" planting, plastering, cultivating and hoeing, 5 87 



" seed-corn and plaster 68 



" spreading manure 88 



The whole expense of raising 1 acre corn-stalk, $19 5Q 



There is no part of the business that is so 

 tedious as plucking the ears, stripping the 

 leaves and cutting ofi^ the tassel. A part of 

 this labour was performed for the fodder 

 that might be obtained from it, but it was 

 not sufficient to pay; as the labour of pluck- 

 ing the ears was performed for this conside- 

 ration, I am unable to say what it would 

 cost; but this much is certain, it is needless 

 for the most part, as no ears of any amount 

 need be raised, if the corn is sufficiently 

 thjck. From the best estimate that I can 

 make of the expense of stripping leaves and 

 cutting the tassel, I think that a smart hand 

 would perform the work on an acre in six 

 days; therefore, 



