108 



NORTHERN SUGAR INDUSTRY. 



whose soil and climate are as diversified as in this, results obtained in 

 one locality are not always reliable for another. 



If some unity of action could in this way be established among those 

 engaged in agricultural research much time and labor would be saved 

 and more valuable results be obtained. 



IMPROVED DEFECATION. 



In addition to experiments made with the ordinary methods of defe- 

 cation during the past season, I have tried to apply the method in use 

 with the beet juice in Europe. 



These experiments were all made in a small way, but I think are of 

 sufficient importance to the future of the industry to deserve brief men- 

 tion here. 



EXPERIMENTS IN DEFECATION. 



The method consists essentially in first adding a large quantity of 

 lime to the juice and afterwards removing itby the injection of carbonic 

 acid. 



The results of these experiments were most flattering. In many cases 

 the coefficient of purity was considerably raised, and in all cases the 

 defecated juice was limpid and clear, but of a reddish-yellow tinge. 

 This coloration is due to a slight decoQiposing effect, which the lime, 

 even in the cold, has on the anoptose, forming jj^ith it dark and bitter 

 decomposition products. This deepening of color, however, does not 

 affect the value of the process for sugar-making, although it would be 

 an objection if sirup alone were the object of manufacture. 



A few results will show the workings of the method. 



No. (1). — A mill juice with a coefficient of purity of 61.60, after treat- 

 ment as indicated above had this number raised to 69.12. In the same 

 juice the percentage of albuminoids before defecation was 4.22,* and 

 after defecation 3.42.* 



No. (2). — A diffusion juice before treatment had a purity coefficient of 

 59.67, and after of 59.79. In the same juice the percentage of albu- 

 minoids before treatment was 4.06,* and after treatment 3.63.* 



In most cases the treatment of the diffusion juices gave somewhat 

 better results. In nearly all cases the relative amount of anoptose to 

 sucrose was diminished, showing that a small portion of it was destroyed 

 by the excess of lime. 



In general I may say that this method of treatment succeeds better 

 with mill th&n with diffusion juices, and for the obvious reason that the 

 former have more impurities that can be removed by lime than theij^ 

 latter. 



On account of the seeming importance of this method of purification 

 to the future of the industry I will give a detailed account of the method 

 of conducting it and of the analyses made in connection therewith. 



* Per 100 of sucrose. 



