472 



[December, 1912. 



SOME USES FOR SUGAR. 



The Bulletin Agriccle of Mauritius for April, 1912, gives a summary in 

 an interesting manner of the many ways that sugar is used in addition to 

 its consumption as food and flavouring, the information being based on 

 an article by M. A. Vivien, a well-known French chemical engineer. On 

 the larger scale it is employed in tanning, particularly in connection with 

 the use of chromic acid for preparing skins, for dyeing, the silver-plating 

 of glass, textile manufactures and is even mixed with motar and cement. 

 Other large consumptions of sugar are concerned with the making of ex- 

 plosives, blacking, transparent soap, clear coconut oil, white linens and 

 the regulation of the rate of emission of acetylene gas. In America it is 

 mixed with coke, in the manufacture of briquettes and similar materials. 

 By burning it in a closed vessel a form of carbon is obtained which is useful 

 for making electric are 'carbons.' Sugar also enters into the composition 

 of many copying inks and gums. Lastly, one of its chief means of con- 

 sumption is in medicines. 



It is claimed that sugar heated on a metal plate yields 6 per cent, of 

 formaldehyde and appears to justify the old method of disinfecting a 

 room by burning sugar: 



The power of sugar as a preserving agent is well-known, and greater 

 use of this may be made, particularly for keeping fresh meat and fish ; 

 a patent has actually been granted in which a solution of sugar contain- 

 ing formalin or creolin is employed for preserving eggs. In another way, 

 cut flowers may be made to keep fresh for a longer time by placing their 

 stalks in water containing 5 to 20 per cent, of sugar : for roses the strength 

 is 7 to 10 per cent ; for chrysanthemums it is 15 to 17 per cent. There are 

 flowers, however, such as lilies, pelargoniums and sweet peas which fade 

 more quickly in water containing sugar. 



The antiseptic properties of sugar are employed in wood preservation 

 by such means as the Powell wood process and it enters into many pre- 

 parations intended for preventing the ravages of fungi. Boilers and 

 other steam-producing apparatus are kept from 'scaling' by the use 

 of preparations containing sugar. Various useful organic acids are made 

 with the aid of that substance, and in the course of the preparation of 

 some of them gases possessing a high calorific value (heating power) are 

 produced; it is also employed in preparing such acids by fermentation : 

 among them are butyric acid, yielding butyric ether which has the 

 smell of pineapples and is used largely in the perfumery trade and in 

 making syrups.— The Agricultural News. 



AGRICULTURAL AND INDUSTRIAL SHOW. 



The sixth Kistna Agricultural and Industrial Show will be held at 

 Ellore on the 22nd, 23rd and 24sh February 1918. Exhibits are invited 

 from all parts of India, Burma and Ceylon, Intending exhibitors should 

 apply to the Honorary Secretary, Show Committee, Ellore, Kistna District. 



