Brian Cochran age 8, of Concord, N.H., for his question:

WHERE DO WE GET MOLASSES?

Molasses is a thick, sweet syrup that is used for cooking, candymaking and livestock feed. Most molasses is obtained as a by product in the manufacture of sugar from sugar cane.

In the United Staes, Louisiana is the center of molasses production.

Molasses is a liquid that is obtained from sugar crystals by changing cane juice to sugar. Molasses may be made by the open kettle method or by the vacuum pan method.

Further boiling produces varying grades. The molasses left after several boilings is called blackstrap. It is used chiefly to feed farm animals or for fertilizer.

Molasses contains about 69.3 percent carbohydrates, 25 percent water, 2.4 percent protein and 3.2 percent ash or mineral.

One pound of molasses has a high energy value of 1,290 calories.