18G SUGAR 



of lime is added to promote the separation of the feculent mat- 

 ters contained in the juice, and these being removed, the cane 

 liquor is then subjected to a very rapid boiling, to evaporate the 

 watery particles and bring the syrup to such a consistency that 

 it will granulate on cooling. 



In order to separate the granulated or crystallised sugar from 

 the molasses, which are incapable of crystallisation and even 

 attract the moisture of the air, it is placed in a large square 

 iron and air-tight case, divided into two compartments by a 

 sieve-like bottom of wire with narrow meshes. The sugar is 

 placed in the upper compartment, and the lower one communi- 

 cates with two air-pumps, which are set in motion by the same 

 engine which crushes the canes. On the air being exhausted in 

 this lower compartment, the liquid molasses come pouring in to 

 fill up the void, while the crystallised mass remains almost 

 thoroughly purified at the top. This used formerly to be a 

 very tedious operation : the sugar was placed in large casks 

 whose bottoms were pierced with holes, and though left to drain 

 for at least eight days, it still retained a quantity of molasses, 

 while by the new process the cleansing is most effectually per- 

 formed in a couple of hours, and the sugar, which has of course 

 a much better appearance, can immediately be packed in 

 hogsheads and cases ready for shipment. 



Though the steam-engine has been generally introduced 

 in the large sugar-plantations in the West Indies, Brazil, 

 and Mauritius, it has not yet penetrated into all sugar-growing 

 countries. In 1842, Tschudi found in Peru the art of cane- 

 crushing and sugar-cleaning still in its infancy, oxen or horses 

 imperfectly performing the part of steam, and in India both 

 poverty and prejudice combine to prevent the injot from 

 adopting any improved method of manufacture. 



The sugar-cane is liable to be destroyed by many enemies. 

 Sometimes herds of monkeys come down from the mountains 

 by night, and having posted sentinels to give the alarm if 

 anything approaches, destroy incredible quantities of the 

 cane by their gambols as well as their greediness. It is in 

 vain to set traps for these creatures, however baited ; and the 

 only way to protect a plantation and destroy them, is to set a 

 numerous watch, well armed with fowling-pieces, and furnished 

 with dogs. Fortunately the negroes perform this service cheer- 



