PROCEEDINGS OF THE POLYTECHNIC ASSOCIATION. 393 



cannot fail to raise 200 cwt. per acre at a cost not exceeding $12. Every 

 thing required is cheaper here, excepting labor, which is two to threo 

 three times higher. The taxes, at tlie present time, are about the same. 



Mr. Hacker has had great opportunities to understand the subject of beet 

 sugar mumifacture in Europe from personal observation, and professional 

 interest in the subject. And he was not able to close the somewhat lengthy 

 communication, which I have endeavored to condense here, without repeat- 

 ing the necessity of devoting attention to the cultivation of the beet as th$ 

 basis upon which all attempts to make this sugar will almost wholly depend. 



The Chairman. — Little need be added to the interesting exposition of 

 this subject by Dr. Parmelee. It niay assist us in remembering the com- 

 position of sugars to say they consist of carbon and water, that is the 

 same elements are contained in eacli but the}^ are united in a diflFerent way. 

 When the sugar is decomposed we find the oxygen united with carbon and 

 not with hydrogen to form a binary compound. Fruit sugar contains 12 

 atoms each of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. Yet acetic acid (hydrated) 

 Contains four atoms each of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. Starch con- 

 tains one atom less of hydrogen and oxygen than is found in cane sugar; 

 that is, Ci2 Hio Oio. There are gums containing the same number of ele- 

 ments as cane sugar. Thus we find substances intensely sour, intensely 

 sweet and neutral to the taste whose composition may be expressed by the 

 same empirical formula. Their peculiarities depend, therefore, on the re- 

 lative arrangement, rather than the relative number, of the atoms of each 

 element contained in them. 



Dr. Eowell. — There are large quantities of maple sugar made at the 

 north every year, but the cheapness of the other sugars offered no induce- 

 ments to raise the maple extensively. The high price of sugar now will 

 induce the cultivation of the maple in larger quantities than formerly. I 

 have noticed that bi'own sugar sweetens coffee better than the white, but 

 that it not so good for lemonade or other acidulous liquids. 



Dr. Bliss. — The beet is not only valuable for making sugar, but it is also 

 good for domestic use, and as fur the crops there is no limit to its growth. 

 I have raised it for several years, and have found it an excellent article of 

 food for horses and cattle generally. Sorghum can also be raised in 

 large quantities on land that will produce very little of other crops. It is 

 surprising to see how much can be cultivated in soil of value for no 

 other purpose. 



Mr. J. Bull. — I have no doubt but that the consumption of maple sugar 

 is very much on the increase in this country. I supposed that sorghum 

 was to take the place of the sugar that we got from Louisiana, and foreign 

 ports, and I have been informed that experiments are making with this 

 article that pi-omise very favorable results. Necessity is the mother of 

 invention, and where there is a great want there is always a great effort 

 to supply it. It is my opinion that cotton will be raised in the free states 

 in quantities that we little dream of There is land enough and free white 

 labor enough to furnish the loj-al states with nearly all they want of both 

 sugar and cotton. 



The manufacture of sugar at the north was continued for discussion 

 at the next meeting. 



Adjourned. 



