SUGAR. 



215 



There is a balance of about two million pounds produced by 

 Rhode Island, Texas, Oregon, California, TJtah, New Mexico, 

 Delaware, and Florida. The above statement does not include 

 the sugar made by the Indians, east of the Mississippi river, 

 which may be set down at 10,000,000 Ibs., and west of that river 

 2,000,000 Ibs. 



Besides the above sugar crop, there was a yield by the sugar 

 maple in the United States in 1850, of 40,000,000 gallons of maple 

 molasses. 



Maize Sugar. The stem and branches of Indian corn, during the 

 time that its grain is filling, abounds with sugar, even when grown 

 in this country ; so much so, that it might be turned to account by 

 those of the peasantry who have small plots of ground attached to 

 their cottages ; and I applied a simple method by which a rich 

 syrup may be obtained from it, equal in sweetness to treacle, and su- 

 perior to it in flavor. The proper time for cutting down the plant 

 (which should be done within an inch of the ground), is when the 

 corn in the ear is small and full of a milky juice. All the large and old 

 leaves should be stripped^off, leaving onlythe young andtenderones ; 

 they should then be cut into short lengths, thoroughly bruised, 

 and the juice entirely pressed out from them. "Where the means 

 cannot be obtained for expressing the juice by this method, the 

 following may be employed : After the plants have been cut into 

 small pieces, put them into a large pot or copper, with only just 

 sufficient water to extract the juice ; boil for one hour, and then 

 strain off the liquor ; to each gallon of this liquor add a wine-glass 

 full of lime-water whilst warm ; but if it be the expressed juice, 

 obtained as above mentioned, add double the quantity of lime- 

 water. When the liquor is cold, for every three gallons beat up 

 an egg with some of the liquor ; put altogether into a boiler, and 

 boil gently till the syrup acquires the consistence of treacle. 

 "Whilst this is going on, the liquor should every now and then be 

 well stirred, and the scum which rises to the surface taken off. 

 This syrup, which will be found a better substitute for sugar than 

 treacle, and more wholesome, should be kept in lightly-covered 

 vessels, in a dry place. 



My own observations, twelve years ago, acquainted me with the 



