154 
SELECTED ARTICLES. 
reddish colour and has a burnt smell, and hence commands 
an inferior price. 
It appeared to me that the presence of a certain quantity of 
alkali in the syrup preserves the sugar from acquiring a burnt 
smell, and this is confirmed by several facts. It should also 
be borne in mind that sugar which becomes dark coloured 
from the absence of an alkali, is with great difficulty whitened 
by means of animal charcoal. 
Since, therefore, it is shown that the syrup must possess a 
certain degree of alkalinity to afford a good product, it remains 
to point out a simple but effectual mode, by which manufac- 
turers may also keep their syrups in this state. This may be 
done as follows. Being provided with — 
1. An alkalimeter, consisting of a tube graduated from 0° 
to 100°; 
2. Alkalimetric liquor reduced to -i, made by mixing one 
part of concentrated sulphuric acid of commerce with one 
hundred parts of water; 
3. A graduated vessel to estimate the syrup; 
4. A large vessel, in which the experiments are to be made; 
5. Litmus paper, slightly reddened by an acid; 
The trial is to be made in the following manner: When the 
syrup marks 10° of the syrupmeter (pese strop,) a certain 
quantity is measured by means of the graduated measure; this 
is to be poured into the large vessel. On the other hand the 
alkalimeter is to be filled with the alkalimetric or test liquid, 
to 0° of the scale. This is then to be gradually added to the 
syrup, stirring well after each addition, and the test paper con- 
stantly used; as soon as this is restored to its blue colour, the 
addition of the diluted acid is to cease. The quantity of the 
test liquid required to produce this, is to be carefully noted, 
and the syrup then heated to observe whether the desired re- 
sult is obtained; in general it will be found that the syrup re- 
quires 50° of the alkalimeter to bring it to a proper degree of 
alkalinity. 
This operation, although apparently troublesome, is readily 
performed with a little experience, in a few minutes. When 
a manufacturer has ascertained the alkalimetric degree at which 
