142 NATUBE-STUDY LESSONS. 



(e) Let some of the liquid stand for a little time in 

 a cup, then pour it off slowly and determine 

 whether there is any sediment. 



(./) When the liquid begins to thicken some- 

 what, pour the contents into a thick woollen 

 bag held over a vessel to catch the drip- 

 pings. 



(^) Examine the liquid which passes through and 



determine what effect the straining process 



has had on the sediment and on the color. 



Such a bag or strainer as this is called s. filter, and this very sweet, thick- 

 ish liquid is called syrup. 



12. («) Take a portion of this syrup and boil consid- 



erably longer. Set the remnant away to 

 cool. 



((5) What does it become .' What is its color .? 



(c) Examine it carefully and describe its composi- 

 tion. 



1 3. Discover whether you can get salt crystals from a 

 salt solution as you have here obtained sugar crystals 

 from the sap of the maple. 



14. {a) Now, take some of the maple syrup and cause 



it to filter through a layer of animal char- 

 coal (made from bones as the wood char- 

 coal is made from wood). 

 (Jj) What is the color of the syrup as it filters 

 through the charcoal ? 



This charcoal filtration is the method used in sugar refineries to clarify 

 raw sugar. 



15. If the time of the year or the place makes it diffi- 

 cult to get maple sap, you may perform similar experi- 

 ments to those in Nos. 10 to 14 with a thin syrup made 

 of brown sugar or granulated sugar. 



