60 MANUFACTURE OF SUGAR IN BARBADOES. 
success * some of which, in particular states of the cane 
juice, may prove very useful ; but for general purposes no- 
thing seems to answer so well as neutralization by lime, either 
in the form of lime-water or milk of lime, added until the 
slightest possible tendency to alkalinity, as ascertained by 
delicate reddened litmus-paper, is perceived. The juice 
should be somewhat heated before the lime is added, and 
afterwards raised quite to its boiling point. The fire is 
then to be withdrawn, and the whole allowed to rest a 
short time. 
The next step is an innovation. It consists in filtering 
the juice before evaporation, with a view of removing the 
whole of the insoluble feculent matter. This maybe done 
with the greatest ease. The cloth-filters employed by sugar- 
refiners, or in small works, a basket or perforated metal cul- 
lender, covered with a linen or woollen cloth, would suffice. 
A charcoal filter would no doubt be very efficacious, but 
more expensive and troublesome in use, and mechanical 
filtration only is really needed. The defecated cane-liquor 
would thus be obtained perfectly clear, which is never now 
the case, and on concentration would yield no scum s the 
labour of skimming and the loss of juice so carried away, 
would be avoided. The feculent matter on the filter might 
either be employed as ferment in the rum-distillery, or more 
advantageously transferred to the compost-heap as a most 
valuable manure. The progress of civilization and morals 
will probably bring about a diminished demand for rum, 
which already in many cases is only made for the purpose 
of employing materials difficult to dispose of, or which 
would otherwise be wasted, namely, molasses and the skim- 
mings of the coppers. By improved methods of manufac- 
ture, however, the molasses might be diminished to an in- 
* See Dr. Evan's Sugar Planter's Manual, a most valuable work, which 
should be in the hands of every one engaged with, or interested in, the 
manufacture of sugar. 
