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 Jive 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, dravra 

 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- 

 tirely 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 neutralized by adding caustic lime, and the point of neutraliza- 

 tion 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 feet 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. 



With the above apparatus, about thirty gallons of sugar, or product, 

 weighing nearly twelve pounds to the gallon, were completed from 

 the 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 

 crystallize as a thing of course ; but I suspect few of them have 

 taken the trouble to ascertain whether it will crystallize or not. 

 Careful evaporation, carried to every possible degree of consistencCj 



