in design, in wisdom, and in power? If such insight
into his doings are permitted to us now, what may we not hope for when
we no longer "see as through a glass darkly[O]?"

The insolubility of the starch in cold water, affords a convenient
means of separating the flour from the other materials, by which it
may be abstracted from the tubers when in the greatest abundance, and
be preserved unchanged for the use of man. This is done by simply
rasping down the potatoes over a seirce, and passing a current of
water over the raspings. The water passes through the seirce milky
from the starch suspended in it. The starch is allowed to fall to the
bottom, and is two or three times washed with pure water; it is then
allowed to dry[P]. If this process be followed in the winter months,
when the quantity of starch is greatest, the result is, a sixth
portion of the weight of the potatoes employed, in a condition fit not
only for immediate use, but capable of preservation for years. "To
those who live solely, or even principally, on potatoes, it must be of
immense importance to have the nutritious part preserved when in its
greatest perfection, instead of leaving it exposed to injury,
decomposition, or decay[Q]."

It is unnecessary to enlarge upon the sources of starch and its
obvious utility to mankind. Previous to its being consumed by the
plant in which it is amassed, it is by various means, but chiefly by
diastase, transformed into sugar. Following this natural transition, I
shall next consider sugar as an article of diet. In temperate
climates, sugar is regarded as a luxury, one indeed which is nearly
indispensable, but in tropical countries it is a universal article of
subsistence, partly as real sugar, and partly, and more generally, as
it occurs in the cane. It is inconceivable what enormous quantities of
the sugar-cane is consumed in this way; vast ship-loads arrive daily
in the market at Manilla, and in Rio Janiero; in the Sandwich Islands
and other places, every child is seen going about with a portion of
sugar-cane in the hand. It has been called "the most perfect
alimentary substance in nature," and the results, in the appearance of
the negroes, during the cane-harvest, notwithstanding the increased
severe toils of that season, seem to confirm the statement. They
almost invariably become plump, and sleek, and scarcely take any other
food while the harvest lasts; even the sickly revive, and often
recover their health.