21 



sion during the boiling in tin*, open evaporator gave the following re- 

 sults : 



Table showing effect of boiling and xkhnniiiif/ in open evaporator. 



Another series, made when neutral clarification was employed, gave 

 the following results : 



The first series shows an inversion of .39 per cent, of the sucrose 

 present, and the second of .27 per cent. I could not be certain that the 

 clarification was uniformly neutral during the second series. 



The inversion produced by boiling and skimming sirup in an open 

 evaporator was investigated by Mr. Spencer and myself at Magnolia, in 

 1884, and the results are given in Bulletin No. 5, p. 55. It seems 

 strange that planters should adhere to this practice. The analyses 

 above show that the purity is diminished instead of increased by the 

 operation, so the idea that the sirup is improved by skimming off the 

 foam which forms upon it is a delusion. None but insoluble substances 

 could possibly be removed in this way, and they would be much more 

 easily and effectually removed by settling. The heat required to bring 

 the sirup to a boil is entirely wasted, unless it is taken into the strike- 

 pan immediately, which is seldom the case. In the operation as per- 

 formed at Des Ligues the sirup was subjected but a short time to a 



