GERMANY.

Calcic salt elimination from beet juices is a problem not yet satisfactorily solved.  Since the early history of beet sugar making, it has been noticed that calcic salts render graining in the pan most tedious; hence repeated efforts to reduce to a minimum percentage the use of lime during defecation.  In all cases it is essential to get rid of inverted sugar.  The difficulty from excess of lime is overcome by adding it now and then during carbonatation; but other means are found desirable; and phosphoric acid, magnesia, soda, etc., have been used with success.  Recent observations relating to the action of soda upon calcic sulphates, calcic glucates, etc., are most important.  Certain citrates have a retarding influence upon calcic sulphates.

An alarm contrivance to announce the passage of juices into condensing pipes has rendered considerable service in beet sugar factories.

A process for refining sugar in the factory, at less cost than it is possible to make raw sugar by existing processes, deserves notice.  Sugars by this new method test 99.8, and sirups from the same have a purity coefficient of 70.  Weight of dry crystals obtained is said to represent 66 per cent. of masse cuite used.  The additional cost of the process is $30 to $40 per centrifugal.  Concentrated juice or sirup may be used as cleare in centrifugals; this sirup should have a density of 1.325 (36 deg.  B.) at 113 deg. to 122 deg.  F., so as not to redissolve the sugar.  Sirup should not be used until all adhering sirup of masse cuite has been swung out.  The sirup, after passing through centrifugals, may be sent to second carbonatation tanks and mixed with juices being treated.

The larva of an insect, known as sylpha, has attacked beet fields in several parts of Saxony.  The effect upon the root is a decrease in foliage, followed by late development of the beet, with corresponding reduction in sugar percentage.  Chickens may render excellent service, as they eat these worms with considerable relish.  A solution of Schweinfurt green has been used with some success; its cost is $2.50 per acre.  None of the chemical remains on the leaves after a rain (?) White worms have done some damage; they should be collected from the fields during plowing.  When they become beetles in the spring, they may be destroyed by a solution of sulphide of carbon; $0.20 worth of this chemical is sufficient to kill 10,000 of them.  These beetles contain 50 per cent of fatty and nitric elements; when pulverized they may be used as good for pigs and chickens.  If the ground mass of beetles is sprinkled with sulphuric acid and a reasonable amount of lime and earth be added, the combination forms an excellent fertilizer for certain crops.  A disease that blackens young beet leaves is found to be due to a microscopic insect.  If the beet seed be saturated in a phenic solution before planting, the difficulty may be overcome.