47. That to promote an abundant and perfect crystallization, repose, moderate warmth, and an equable temperature are necessary; and to effect the better curing of the sugar, these two operations should be performed in the same vessel.

"8. That to induce the complete separation of the molasses, the sugar, when sufficiently cured, should be submitted to the process of liquoring.

"9. The molasses must be concentrated before any fermentative change shall have commenced." It is to be observed that the facts and principles of this and our preceding paper, are obtained from one conversant practically only with the systems of sugar manufacture in the English colonies. Most of them may be said, however, to be of universal application. How far they may, or may not, correspond with results, &c., in Louisiana, remains to be inquired in other numbers of our series. It is for the interest of sugar planters that they be conversant with everything going on in their art in any quarter of the world, and we desire to give this information. In farther aid of our labors, we are in expectation of a work from England, not yet published, and information which has been solicited from the East Indies.

his remarks took it for granted, that under the present system of labor adopted in these islands, and in the relationship subsisting between the whites and blacks, their ruin was inevitable, if not already achieved. What results may grow out of this commission of examination, the facts and statistics collected by them, and the testimony elicited, it is not hard to determine. Sure are we, that in the overwhelming evidence, fanaticism and folly will be unmasked, and stand rebuked before the world! May we not hope, too, that the influences will be benignantly felt in our own country in crushing those nefarious combinations, whose ends, whether perceived or not, are the same embarrassment and ruin! The condition, prospects and happiness-yea, even the lives of five millions of our population, white and black, are to be jeoparded in experiments, which philosophy, history, and all example denounce and deprecate. Phæton in the car of the sun is an admirable allegory of licen tious abolitionism!

Dr. Evans complains of the loose manner in which the statistics of the West Indies are presented. Could a complete register be preserved of each of the islands, and, in fact, of the operations of the chief plantations, &c., Nor can we dismiss the subject without much would result to the general benefit. adverting to the condition of the English Dissemination of knowledge of this kind West India sugar colonies of the present day. would be of much advantage to Louisiana, On every hand the loudest, deepest, and most and we have at all times endeavored to obtain bitter complaints are sent up to the crown. it. A book is recommended on each estate, It is impossible for these planters not to feel to record the chemical character of the soil, that they have been sacrificed to the blind mode of cultivation pursued, nature and and misguided efforts of religious enthusiasts quantity of manure, weight of canes per acre and pseudo-philanthropists in England, sub-their description, whether plants, ratoons, serving the purposes of interested politicians.* One of the most significant movements of the times, in this respect, must be considered the late one in parliament, calling for a committee of investigation into the state of the sugar colonies, and the grievous complaints of planters. The mover of this resolution in

* We think that Gov. Hammond, in his letters on slavery, unanswerably shows that the politicians of England, to build up her East India possessions, and break down the United States, lent a willing ear to the sincere but deluded zealots of emancipation. We shall take occasion at an early day to present an article showing, upon every point, from the most reliable data, the actual condition of the British West Indies at this time, contrasted with former prosperity.

age, &c., quantity of juice expressed by mill, density of that fluid, and other peculiarities, amount of sugar and molasses obtained, &c. To this may be added, kind of force employed, kind and consumption of fuel, expense of machinery and improvements, results in drainage, condition of slaves-ages, sex, health, longevity, diseases, fertility, expense of maintenance-kind and quantity of food, clothing, value of other products, value of slaves, &c., &c., &c. The preservation of these statistics on all the sugar estates of Louisiana, we commend, in the assurance that it will be attended with the best results. To which farther add, system of management of slaves, observations on weather, temperature, atNothing, the West Indian contends, has hap- mosphere, &c., &c. Nothing would please pened that might not have been confidently expect- us more than to obtain such a paper, rigidly ed. During the period of slavery the want of labor was unknown, for the great majority of the popula- kept for one or more years from one of the tion was compelled by law to work upon the planta-largest estales in Louisiana, and we will ensions from day to day. But when that great social deavor to obtain something of the same kind change, effected by The Emancipation Act,' took from the West Indies, by way of contrast. place, vast numbers of the freed people betook themselves to other occupations natural to a free commuBearing upon these points are the following nity; many to desultory pursuits, squatting, and va- remarks of Dr. Evans: graney; while those who continued to work, were, from the fewness of their number, and the urgent necessity for their services, enabled to dictate their own terms to their employers."—Evans.

from seed in the West Indies; it is propa The sugar-cane has never been produced gated by cuttings or germs. Plants so raised,

as is well known, become, in time, liable to deterioration and disease, and often entirely disappear.

SUGAR-CANE.-EXTRACT FROM A MEMOIR ON THE STRUCTURE AND COMPOSITION OF THE SUGAR-CANE, BY M. PAYEN: TRANSLATED "There is, indeed, much reason for believ- BY PROF. J. B. REYNOLDS, FROM THE COMPing that this change has already commenced TES RENDUS, TOME XXVIII., MAY 21ST. 1849. in the Bourbon and Otaheite cane. Ought-In instituting some experimental researches we not to inquire whether this disposition on the sugar-cane, I have proposed to determight not be checked, or whether a great mine, by aid of the microscope and chemical improvement in the vigor of these plants analysis, might not be effected by a change of cuttings between colony and colony, or even between plantations in the same colony?

"Or would it not be useful to obtain, occasionally, a new stock from the countries which originally produced them?

These, and other questions of equal importance, cannot be answered, for as yet they have attracted no attention."

Among the many schemes lately advanced for the relief of the British sugar-planters in their deplorable condition, one or two may be noted; but none of them, in our opinion, go to the bottom of the difficulty.

1st. The forms and the compositions of the tissues of this plaut.

2d. The seat of the secretion of the sugar. 3d. The changes which age brings about in the forms and nature of the different parts of the tissue.

4th. The variations which the proximate principles experience at the same time.

Under this last head, I have been especially occupied with the parts of the stalk which are used in the sugar industry.

The solution of these questions, at which I have arrived, will offer some interest, notwithstanding the important labors, of which the sugar-cane has been the object, on the part of Proust, Derosne, and MM. Plagne, Avequin, Péligot, Dupuy, Hervy, and Casaseca.

If we examine, from the surface to the centre, a section of the stalk, cut perpendicularly to its axis, at the epoch of its inaturity, when it has become yellowish, and the leaves have fallen, we remark—

In consequence of the deficiency of force on the plantations, and difficulties of labor, it is proposed to establish central factories, like toll-mills, in the heart of different sugar regions, for the manufacture of the canes for the contiguous estates for miles around, these factories to be supported by British capital, and furnished with English laborers. Dr. Evans argues strongly against their practicability, from the nature of the country to be traversed in carrying the canes to mill-from the bulky nature of the canes-from the important consideration that all the canes from the estates arrive contemporaneously at ma- Second, The cuticle, with the angular proturity, and their speedy grinding, so necessa-jections corresponding to the knots between ry, could not be secured, etc. He finally shows that, all things together, the expense to the planter would very likely be greater than at present.

Another measure proposed has been to export to England the concreted cane-juice, to undergo manufacture there. It is thought that. with due modification, etc., of the British tariff, his plan would be greatly successful. The following restrictions are chiefly com plained of by the British sugar estates in their present embarrassment, and with them we close for the present:

1. Upon the importation of labor by "passenger acts," elc.

2. Upon improvement in the quality of product-nothing being allowed, until lately, to be exported superior to Muscovado.

3. Upon the exportation of the raw mate rial, juice, etc., by the nature of the duties levied, and want of discrimination.

4. Upon the use of saccharine matter in England for various manufacturing purposes. 5. Restriction by navigation laws in favor of British ships.

6. Upon the importation into the colonies of the produce of foreign countries.

First, A superficial stratum adhering to the epidermis, formed of a kind of wax (cérosie) observed by MM. Plagne and Avequin, and studied by M. Dumas.*

the cells.

Third, The thick walls of the ipidermic cells;-lines of demarkation exist between the external walls of these cells; and their cavities are in free communication, either by a thin membrane, or by numerous small canals (canalicules) in the thickness of the walls.

Fourth, The cellular tissue, with thinner walls under the epidermis.

Fifth, A cellular tissue, with thick walls traversed by small canals.

Sixth, Two circular coucentric rows of woody bundles, each surrounding a space filled by various vessels described further on.

These bundles are almost in contact with each other in the first row, and a little less approximated in the second.

Similar bundles are remarked, but gradually less abundant in woody fibres, and more and more separated from each other, up to the axis of the stalk.

None of these tissues which we have just described contain sugar, while they contain,

According to M. Avequin, each developed staik

7. Upon the importation of colonial spirits of sugar cane contains, on an average, two grammes into England.

of cérosie,

in greater or less proportion, other substances | rate in various points from the neighboring indicated at the end of this memoir. adhering cells, preserving the orange-yellow I have determined the seat of the crystal-color acquired under the influence of the doulizable sugar, by observing, under the micro-ble chemical reaction. scope, thin sections of the different tissues of After washing with pure water, if we add the dry cane. I took the pains to separate a solution of caustic potassa or soda to a thin previously the detached particles by agita- slice, we remark that all the parts of the tissue ting the sections in anhydrous alcohol. This injected with woody substance are colored liquid not dissolving the crystallized sugar, yellow, while the small-pointed vessels and the we facilitate the observation by introducing cuticle become more translucent and colorless. it between the porte objet and the plate which This difference in the effects of the reagent covers the sections. By the aid of these dis- adds another distinctive character between positions, we may discern crystals of sugar these small vessels and the rest of the tissue more or less voluminous, and appearing simi- of the cane. It appears to indicate the ablar to those of rock candy, in all the cylindri- sence of woody matter in the parts which, cal cells with thin walls which surround the under the influence of the caustic alkali, do numerous bundles of woody fibres and ves- not take a persistent yellow color. sels, from the axis to the second row of fibres the most woody.*

We remark that all these cells communicate with each other in the surfaces in contact, by a great number of small openings traversing the double thickness of their lateral walls, which openings are not found in the bottoms representing the two bases of the hollow cylinder or prism which each cell forms.

The color also everywhere disappears, if we follow the alkaline action, at first with a washing in pure water, and then add acetic acid in excess. This acid clears very notably the microscopic view.

If we expose to the action of caustic potassa or soda similar thin slices, and render the effect more marked by the aid of concentration to dryness, we observe, after a complete washing, that the slices have been completely In ripe canes, all the tissues which we have disaggregated. It is the same with the smalljust indicated submitted to a washing with pointed vessels, which we do not find again pure water, and, put in contact with iodine, in the space which they occupied. become yellow: sulphuric acid maintains and other parts of the tissue, in becoming disag renders more intense this coloration, disaggregated under the action of iodine and congregating the cellulose. centrated sulphuric acid, take an indigo-blue color, which characterizes pure cellulose.

But if we remove, by the aid of a solution of one part of caustic-soda in ten parts of water, a part of the azotized matter which impregnates the small vessels with thin walls, as well as a portion of the azotized and woody substances with which the sacchariferous cells are injected, we remark then, under the influence of the double reaction, (of iodine and acid,) several curious phenomena--the small-pointed vessels, commencing to disaggregate, present a slight indigo-blue colora

tion.

The internal part of the sugar cells, the last formed, swelling very rapidly, passes to the state of the particles of cellulose, disaggregated to the extent they are found to be in solution of starch. We comprehend, then, how these parts are tinged an intense indigoblue. The azotized particles which were adhering to this inner layer separate from it, and manifest their presence by the peculiar orange color of the light granular outline which they form parallel to the contour of the inner swollen walls.

The external membranes earlier formed, more strongly aggregated, and more injected, resist this peculiar disaggregation; they swell, however, form wavy folds, and sepa

The specimens which were used in this experiment, were prepared in 1843 in the colonies, by M. Derosne, whe dried rapidly in the sun canes cut previously into slices, about one centimetre in thick

ness.

All the

In sugar-canes less developed, the partial or complete purification of the cellulose from all the tissues is much more prompt, and does not require as powerful re-agents; for, if we treat under the microscope some very thin slices of the stalk (between the knots of the middle portion) of a green sugar-cane grown only to a third of its development, first, with pure water, secondly, with a watery alcoholic solution of iodine, thirdly, with concentrated sulphuric acid, we remark that the epidermis, and the cellular tissue under the epidermis, resist, and take an intense orange color; the woody fibres entirely disaggregating, and the large-pointed vessels, to the number of two in each one of the vascular bundles, assume and retain an orange-yellow color, the smallpointed vessels appear colored a greenish blue, and disaggregate promptly. Finally, the sugar cells pass from a yellowish shade to a green, then to an indigo-violet, swelling and breaking up gradually.

I have submitted to the same reagents the lower whitish part (completely enveloped by the sheathing-engainantes-leaves) of a stalk of cane, at an early stage of its growth. In this portion, three centimetres high from one knot to the following one, a section under the microscope showed the fibres destined to become woody, as yet having but little thickness.

An aqueous solution of iodine colored the

tissues yellow, with the exception of the small-pointed vessels; the addition of a drop of sulphuric acid gave rise, on the whole of the tissues, to one of the most beautiful microscopic appearances; the external hairs, yellowed on their external cuticle and their internal granular membrane, became violet throughout the whole thickness of their swollen walls; the cuticle and the epidermis of the stalk had acquired a deep orange tint, the subjacent cellular tissue was blue throughout all the cells; the same shade colored the small-pointed vessels, thus forming a blue cylindrical bundle, entirely surrounded with an orange-yellow tissue, to wit: first, the large-pointed vessels, and the fourteen to eighteen tubes adhering to each one of them; secondly, the superposed tubes; thirdly, the fibres slightly woody. In the middle of the yellow walls of these last, the inner layer of recently formed cellulose was seen, detaching itself in an irregular ring, swollen and

blue.

the leaves and that of the little stalk colored a bright orange-yellow, while all the other elements of the tissues pass rapidly to a violet color, disaggregating themselves.

Finally, in all the stalks and leaves of the shoots recently formed, grains of starch are remarked in great number.

The stalks contain it, especially in the tis sues under the epidermis, in the sugar cellular tissues, all around the vascular bundles.

The leaves also present abundant secretions of starch around the vessels of the nerves, in the resisting cellular tissues which envelop these nerves, and extend from one of the faces of the leaf to the other.

These remarkable differences in the nature and distribution of the proximate principles, the much less thickness of the walls of the cells, fibres, &c., and the much less abundant injection of woody matters in the younger tissues, seem to indicate that the differences of the same order would manifest themselves, when the proximate composition of the incompletely developed stalks should be compared with that of the stalks which approach to maturity.

The results of the comparative analyses have effectually exhibited these differences. They help to explain the difficulties, already well proved by the practice of sugar refineries, which the treatment of canes cut before being ripe present.

In the younger tissue, above this knot, all the cells present a kind of round or elliptical nucleus of fine azotized tissue, having a diameter equal to nearly a tenth of the diameter of the cell; abundant grains of azotized matter were adhering to all the inner walls; numerous grains of starch, having about 5-1000 of a millimetre of diameter. The successive additions of iodine and sulphuric acid tinged the epidermis a deep persistent yellow; all the tubes, vessels and cells, were swollen, as-ful to separate the suckers, or developed They show, besides, that it would be usesumed a deep violet tint, and separated from shoots, which remain adhering to the workeach other. Soon the solution became more able stalks, and perhaps even the younger complete, the blue walls disappeared, expo- extremities of these stalks, near the termising to view the isolated brownish-yellow epidermis, and all the orange-yellow azotized nal part called the arrow (flèche,) which is particles which were adhering to the interior always separated. of the destroyed cellular membranes.

The same successive treatments, applied to the thin slices of a lateral shoot, the leaves of which were only developed to thirty centimetres in length, exhibit the epidermis of

We see likewise, by casting the eye over the comparative analyses, that the composition of the sugar-canes is more complex than was supposed.

PROXIMATE COMPOSITION OF SUGAR-CANES.

Ripe Otaheite Cane.

Cane at one-third of its Growth.

Water..
Sugar, (1)

Cellulose and woody matter, (2)
Albumen, and three other azotized matters,
(3)..
Cérosie, green matter, yellow coloring sub-
stance, matters colorable brown and car-
mine red, fatty substances, essential oil, aro-
matic matter, deliquescent matter (4)
Insoluble salts, 0.12; and soluble, 0.16: phos-
phates of lime and magnesia; (5) alumina,
sulphate and oxalate of lime, acetates and
malates of lime, potassa and soda; sulphate
of potassa, chloride of potassium and so-
dium...

Silica...

1. By admitting that glucose and liquid sugar do not pre-exist, we comprehend their habitual presence in small proportions, by reason of the alterations at all the points

100.00

where the tissues are torn or cut at the moment of the gathering of the canes.

2. The relative quantities of tissues vary according to the knots (which contain the

The question which at the present moment occupies the public attention, seems 6. The total weight of these four azotized to me to have received, on the part of scimatters is deduced from the ultimate analy-ence and industry, all the elements of a rational solution; nothing more is required than to apply certain theoretical and practical ideas.