1868 The complete Practical Distiller

THE COMPLETE PRACTICAL DISTILLER.

132

From 1 hectolitre of sjrup you can obtain 20 or 24 hectolitres of well-fermented wash, which renders about 80 litres of spirits at 19° .Beaum6. This quantity differs from those reported in various works — some saying more could be produced, and others, that not so much might bo looked for under any circumstances. The medium has boon taken here, which is more likely to be right than either of the extremes alluded to. The only way to account for the results so widely dif- fering is by the admission of the fact, which is very pro- bable, that by exhausting the molasses much more, it is rendered less fit for distillation ; while another operates on molasses richer in sut/ar, less exhausted, and with a better knowledge of that particular kind of work. It is necessary to observe that the produce of spirits mentioned before is owing to the process which has just been de- scribed for fermenting it. Moreover, the reader must be warned that one of the advantages attached to this method of operating results from the use of the spent-wash. This occasions an economy in fuel, as the caloric of the wash, leaving the still in a boiling state, is in this in- stance appropriated to good use. Besides, there are found in the use of the spont-wash all the benefits which have been before developed in speaking of the transformation of sugar into alcohol. It has often been found of advantage to put grain to this mixture, at the rate of from 5 to 7 kilogrammes per 100 litres of molasses. This grain, when broken and consist- ing of a mixture of 20 kilogrammes of malt to 80 of rye, gives more impetus to the fermentation, niul ronJors it more complete.