THE VOLATILE PART OF PLANTS. 13 
granulated sugar, but in the form of rock candy may be 
found an inch or more in length. The crystallized sugar 
obtained largely from the sugar-beet, in Europe, and that 
furnished in the United States by the sugar-maple and 
sorghum, when pure, are identical with cane-sugar. 
Saccharose also exists in the vernal juices of the walnut, 
birch, and other trees. It occurs in the stems of unripe 
maize, in the nectar of flowers, in fresh honey, in parsnips, 
turnips, carrots, parsley, sweet potatoes, in the stems and 
roots of grasses, and in a multitude of fruits. 
Exp. 29.—Heat cautiously a spoonful of white sugar until it melts, (at 
356° F.,) to a clear yellow liquid. On rapid cooling, it gives a transpar- 
. ent mass, known as barley sugar, which is employed in confectionery. 
At a higher heat, it turns brown, froths, emits pungent vapors, and be- 
comes burnt sugar, or caramel, which is used for coloring soups, ale, etc. 
The quantity per cent of saccharose in the juice of various plants is 
given in the annexed table. It is, of course, variable, depending upon 
the variety of plant in case of cane, beet, and sorghum, as well as upon 
the stage of growth. 
SACCHAROSE IN PLANTS. 
per cent, 
Sugar cane, average............065 18 Peligot 
Sugar beet, " ...... eininis wages 10 es 
Sorghum ...........0060+- -. 94g Goessmann 
Maize, just flowered,........ ... 334 Lidersdorff 
Sugar maple, sap,average. .. -.. 216 Liebig 
Redmaple, “9 “ ovo... ae 
When a solution of this sugar is heated with dilute 
acids, or when acted on by yeast, it is converted into a mix- 
ture of equal parts of levulose, (fruit sugar,) and glucose, 
(grape sugar.) 
The composition of saccharose is the same as that of 
Arabic acid, and it contains in 100 parts: 
Carbon 42,11 
Hydrogen 6.43 
Oxygen 51.46 
100.00 
Levulose, or Fruit Sugar, (Fructose,) C,, H,, O,,, exists 
mixed with other sugars in sweet fruits, honey, and mo- 
4 
