STATE IN WHICH SUGAR EXISTS IN THE CANE. 71 



observable, which, it may be inferred, are crystals of sugar, 

 formed in consequence of the evaporation of the aqueous 

 part of the cell juice. These observations seem to prove, 

 that the saccharine matter of the cane exists in it in a state 

 of solution, according to the commonly received opinion. 

 This I mention particularly, because a different inference 

 has been drawn by some inquirers, viz., that the saccharine 

 matter is secreted in the crystalline state, in brief, as crys- 

 tals of pure sugar, an inference which, it appears to me, is 

 neither probable, a priori, on theoretical grounds, con- 

 sidering the strong attraction sugar has for water, nor in 

 agreement with the results of carefully made observations. 

 I may remark, it would be extraordinary indeed if crystals 

 of sugar, a substance which deliquesces in an atmosphere 

 saturated with water, were found to exist in a cellular 

 tissue, so abounding, so saturated with aqueous juice, as is 

 that of the cane. This its powerful attraction for mois- 

 ture is easily shown, by suspending, wrapped in muslin or 

 thin paper, a piece of refined sugar, in a bottle to be well 

 corked, in which there is a little water, in consequence of 

 which the air included becomes saturated with moisture. 

 In this very damp atmosphere the sugar will be found 

 rapidly to deliquesce, and in a day or two to fall in drops 

 into the water, and to continue so to do till the whole of 

 the solid mass disappears." 



I have been thus explicit upon this subject, because it is 

 desirable to prevent the erroneous idea from being enter- 

 tained, that sugar exists in the cane in a crystalline form, 



