oo 
Sugar of Potatoe Starch. 287 
ture nearly sufficient for dissolving the starch,—say 158°. A part 
of the water was then drawn off, and mixed with the starch, when 
the whole was poured into the converter, and constantly agitated, until, 
by the agitation and the increase of heat, the whole of the starch was 
dissolved. Four pounds of sulphuric acid had been mixed with the 
water in the converter, before the starch was added to it. The 
aperture, through which the starch had been introduced and agitated, 
was then closed. A throttle valve within the steam pipe was loaded 
with ten pounds to the square inch, and a safety valve upon the con- 
verter was loaded with five pounds. 'The steam was then driven into 
the converter, until the whole of the starch was converted into sugar, 
which usually required five or six hours. This point was ascertained 
at first, by the test of iodine added to a little of the product, drawn 
occasionally from the converter; but, by a little experience, it was 
readily and accurately ascertained by the flavor alone ; as, before it 
became fully converted, it had a raw, disagreeable flavor, which en- 
litely subsided on that event, and gave place to one sweet and 
pleasant. 
The syrup was then drawn, whilst yet hot, into receivers, and the 
acid heutralized by adding caustic lime, and the point of neutraliza- 
lion ascertained by test paper or red cabbage, but better by the taste, 
and the syrup was then left to settle its impurities. It was remarked 
that less time was required to neutralize the acid, when used whilst 
the syrup was yet hot, and that the impurities settled more promptly 
and completely, leaving a more transparent and beautiful syrup. 
The boiler was composed of a sheet of copper, seven feet and a 
half long, by four fect and a half broad, made of sheets of sixteen 
ounce copper, tinned upon the side intended for the upper one, tack- 
ed and soldered together, and nailed upon a wooden frame, six inches 
deep, of the same dimensions, divided into two partitions by a strip 
of plank crossing its centre. This vessel was set over an arch, and 
When adjusted, it was scarcely possible to desire a more cheap and 
Useful instrument for the purposes for which it was designed. 
ith the above apparatus, about thirty gallons of sugar, or product, 
Weighing nearly twelve pounds to the gallon, were completed from 
starch and put up for market each day. 
All the authorities I have seen speak only of crystallized sugar 
derived from starch, and the reader would expect to see his product 
rystallize as a thing of course; but I suspect few of them have 
N the trouble to ascertain whether it will crystallize or not. 
Careful evaporation, carried to every possible degree of consistence, 
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