Page:Jerry Thomas - The bar-tender's guide (1862).djvu/108

104 essential points, or degrees, in boiling sugar. They are called

The sugar being clarified, put it on the fire, and after boiling a few moments, gently dip the top of your forefinger into the syrup, and apply it to your thumb, when, on separating them immediately, the sugar forms a fine thread, which will break at a short distance, and remain as a drop on the finger and thumb. This is termed the "Small Thread."

Boil a little longer, and again dip the forefinger into the syrup, and apply it to the ball of the thumb. This time a somewhat longer string will be drawn. This is termed the "Large Thread."

This is when you separate the thumb and finger, and the fine thread reaches, without breaking, from one to the other.

When the finger and thumb are spread as far as possible, without the thread being broken, it is termed the "Large Pearl." Another sign, also, is sometimes shown, by the boiling syrup exhibiting bubbles on the surface. But this should be considered more as a hint than as a rule for guidance.