310 DATE SUGAR INDUSTRY IN BENGAL. 



A glance at the figures shews that the amount of inversion going 

 on is large, varying from 0'6 to 53 per cent. Experiments 10, 11 and 

 12 were duplicated, and it is seen that the duplicates agree very well 

 indeed. A few results are given shewing the amount of inversion 

 going on after 5-30 A.M., as it appeared to the writer that much loss 

 by inversion might be saved if the pots were collected by that hour ; 

 the present practice being to collect the juice much later. Experi- 

 ments Nos. 1 and 2 shew the loss by inversion between 5-30 A.M. 

 and 7 A.M., to be considerable, namely, 18'2 per cent, and 22'2 per 

 cent., respectively. 



On the other hand, experiments 13, 14 and 15 shew the loss 

 during this period to be almost inappreciable. The difference in these 

 results is explained by the fact that the juice used in experiments 

 1 and 2 was juice which had been standing in the pot overnight. 

 It was, therefore, in full process of inversion and probably fairly 

 warm. In experiments Nos. 13, 14 and 15 the juice used for the 

 experiment was collecting in the pot from 8-30 P.M. to 5-20 A.M. 

 and, therefore, it was not probably in full process of inversion 

 and also it was probably much colder. 



This fact also applies to all these experiments on inversion. 

 The figures given shew the maximum inversion which can take place. 

 In practice, the juice is running all night, and of course the later 

 runnings are not exposed in the pot for anything like the length of 

 time that the juice was which was used in these experiments. 



EFFECT OF PRESERVATIVES ON THE JUICE. 



A camp laboratory does not afford an opportunity for a very 

 complete examination of date juice. Accordingly some 12 litres 

 of good juice were collected and treated with various preservatives 

 in order to keep them until arrival at Pusa. The following table 

 shews the preservative used, the volume of juice and the direct read- 

 ing of the solution in a Schmidt-Hsensch polariscope from time to 

 time. 



