OANE SUGAR. 



The following analyses of molasses feeds are due to Browne 19 : 



Water 



Fat 



Ash ', \/ .. .. 



Fibre . . ...... 



Protein 



Sugars 



Other carbohydrates. 



Manufacture of Alcohol. In the West Indies and the Argentine 

 generally, and often in Peru, Natal, and Australia, the distillery forms an 

 integral part of the sugar factory, a potable spirit known as rum being manu- 

 factured in large quantities. The sale of alcohol leaves all the fertilizing 

 elements in molasses available for return to the soil, and hence this scheme 

 has much in its favour. At the time of writing (1910) the anticipated large 

 production of denatured alcohol from molasses in the U.S.A. has not 

 taken place. 



Use as Fuel. Molasses are occasionally used as fuel to supplement 

 that afforded by the megass ; if the ashes are returned to the soil a portion of 

 the plant food is recovered but the nitrogen is lost for immediate use. The 

 fuel value of molasses is discussed in Chapter XX. 



Return to Soil. On irrigated plantations molasses can be returned 

 to the soil at small expense ; in Mauritius they are often incorporated with 

 the composts of manure. Ebbels and Fanque 20 have produced evidence that 

 the sugar in the molasses aids the nitrogen-fixing organisms in their work, 

 resulting in an increase in the nitrogen content of the soil, and in increased 

 crops. Their results are extremely suggestive and are a strong argument in 

 favour of this method of disposal, but more evidence is required as to the 

 specific action of sucrose and glucose upon the nitrifying, denitrifying and 

 ammonifying organisms of the soil before the indiscriminate use of molasses 

 can be recommended. 



Boname 21 has also detailed the results of experiments showing that the effect 

 of molasses is greater than might be expected from its composition ; he mentions 

 that in Mauritius a litre of molasses (3 Ibs.) is often applied to each cane hole 

 (3000 holes to an acre) and states that this amount might be decreased with 

 advantage so as to spread the available supply over large areas. 



On the other hand experiments made by Peck 22 have shown that the 

 continued addition of glucose to soil bacteria in vitro retards the activity of 

 the nitrifying and ammonifying organisms and accelerates that of the 

 denitrifying races. 



402 



