26 



The diffusion juice at Kio Grande, without any treatment whatever, 

 was conducted directly to an open pan and concentrated to a thin sirup. 



The disastrous effects of this treatment are shown by the data of Table 

 "N"o. 19. The evaporation of sugar juices in an open pan is to be con- 

 demned for lack of economy ; but such treatment, before neutralizing 

 the free acids of the juice, must also necessarily invert a large portion 

 of the sucrose. 



The glucose per hundred of sucrose in the normal juice at Bio Grande 

 was 36.06 ; in the sirup it was 46.38. 



The pan on which the concentration took place was shallow and fur- 

 nished with steam-pipes. The liquor ran rapidly through, otherwise the 

 inversion would have been much greater. 



TABLE No. 20. Masse cuites, Bio Grande, N. J. 



Table No. 20 shows that no further inversion has taken place by 

 evaporating the sirup in the vacuum pan. Only a small number of 

 samples of masse cuitc were obtained, since it required a long working of 

 the battery to furnish enough sirup for a strike. Moreover, no samples 

 of masse czutewere taken until Mr. Edson took charge of the analytical 

 work. The data of Table No. 20 are therefore not strictly comparable 

 with those of Table No. 19. 



The masse cuites at Rio Grande were placed in wagons and kept in 

 the crystallizing room, at the proper temperature, for several days, 

 before being sent to the centrifugal machines. The first and second 

 sugars were thus obtained as one product. 



By reason of the omission of clarification the sugar was dried with 

 extreme difficulty. Indeed it was found impossible to dry it so as to 

 make a granular product. The gum, glucose, and other impurities 

 kept it in the form of a waxy mass. A glance at the data of Table No. 

 21 will show the character of the sugar made. A sugar which still con- 

 tains 13.08 per cent, of reducing sugar would be regarded with grave 

 suspicion by refiners. 



The character of the sugar shows the necessity of careful defecation 

 and clarification. Sorghum juices especially, when worked for sugar, 

 should be as nearly neutral as possible, and great care should be ex- 

 ercised to remove all the scums and to allow suspended matters to 

 settle. 



