190 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



1-2 EDWARD VII., A. 1902 



Ash or Mineral Matter. — Pure starch does not contain any ash, but commercial 

 starch, since it usually possesses traces of foreign matter, such as vegetable fibre, nitro- 

 genous substances, &c, frequently shows a small percentage of mineral matter derived 

 from these constituents. The very small amount we have found present in this sample 

 would not, in our opinion, detract in any way from its value for those purposes for 

 which potato starch is employed. In this respect, however, it seems to be scarcely 

 equal to some of the finer starches used in cooking. 



Nitrogen. — The above recorded percentage shows that this sample contains traces 

 only of albuminoid matter. 



Fibre. — Analysis did not reveal the presence of any appreciable amount of vege- 

 table fibre. 



Reaction. — This starch has a slightly acid reaction, though no traces of mineral 

 acids could be detected. Presumably this trace of acidity is developed during its 

 manufacture. Most probably this feature would not affect in any way the value of the 

 starch, but on this point there are no data at our command. Such samples of corn 

 and rice starch as we have examined have been invariably found to be sligbtly alkaline. 



Microscopic Examination. — A few fragments of foreign material, evidently vege- 

 table tissue, are discernible. Many brands of commercial starch contain such traces, 

 their presence being due to imperfect separation in manufacture, but the very finest 

 qualities are stated to be so pure in this respect as to be free even from traces of fibra 

 or tissue. 



CANADIAN BUTTER AS EXPORTED. 



In March of the present year we received a request from the Department of the 

 Secretary of State, Ottawa, to analyse and report upon a sample of Canadian butter 

 that had been condemned and prohibited from sale in Cuba on the ground that it was 

 adulterated, the custom's analyst at Havana having certified that it contained 35 per 

 cent oleomargarine. Unopened samples of the butter from the condemned consignment 

 had been returned at the instance of the Secretary of State, and these were forwarded 

 to the Farm laboratories. Having submitted the butter to a very careful and complete 

 examination, we made the following report, which in the fullest way bears out the claim 

 of the manufacturer and exporter, that the butter is pure and unadulterated. 



ANALYSIS AND REPORT. 



Butter received from the Department of the Secretary of State, Dominion of 

 Canada, and contained in a 2-lb. tin, hermetically sealed and bearing the following 

 marks : — ' Extra Finest Canadian Butter, Pierre de Bacourt, Central Creamery at 

 Scott Junction, Dorchester, Canada.' Written in ink on bottom of tin is ' 9478 R. 

 Truffin & Co., ss. Mexico. September 17, 1900, 4 cases, out of case No. 636.' Tin 

 bound with tape and seals intact ' Deputy Collector (official) of Customs.' 



Analysis. 



Fat 83 15 



Water 10-70 



Salt 4-02 



Curd, by difference 2-13 



100 -00 



