BUREAU OF CHEMISTRY. 433 



American honeys already published, will be of great value to the 

 food chemist in determining the character and purity of hone3^ 



Samples have been collected and analyses begun in an investiga- 

 tion of the composition of American glucose and starch sugars. At 

 present only a few scattered analyses of these products are available, 

 and this work will be of material value to the food chemist in his 

 valuation of sirup mixtures containing varying percentages of com- 

 mercial glucose. 



The general methods of sugar analysis are constantly being studied 

 in the Sugar Laboratory, under the direction of the chief, A. H. 

 Bryan. New methods as they are published in scientific literature 

 along this particular line are tested and their value for the work in 

 hand is studied. This often requires much work, and may produce 

 only negative results, which are, however, as valuable as positive ones, 

 since it is necessary to know whether the proposed methods are more 

 accurate than those in use. 



During the year 721 samples were received for analysis by the 

 Sugar Laboratory, and on over 95 per cent of them a complete report 

 has been made. Besides this, about 250 samples of maple sugars, col- 

 lected during the preceding year, were analyzed, and approximately 

 30 samples of imported honeys. Classifying these samples, the dis- 

 tribution of the work is seen to be as follows: 



Sugar-bearing plants : 



Beets 244 



Cane and sorghum 62 



Official food samples : 



Maple and cane sirups, molasses, and honeys 62 



Imported honeys 39 



Maple sirup and sugar samples 399 



Samples from other laboratories and departments: 



Bureau of Engraving and Printing 14 



General Supply Committee 26 



Drug Laboratory samples 70 



Other laboratories of the Bureau 8 



Starch products 32 



Miscellaneous sirups and sugars 45 



BACTERIOCHEMICAL WORK. 



The principal bacteriochemical investigation conducted has been 

 that of the conditions surrounding the oyster and clam industry. 

 This was continued from last year, and a decided improvement was 

 noted in the methods of handling and shipping these valuable food 

 products. Inspection of oyster beds, floats, shucking houses, con- 

 tainers, and shipping and transportation conditions, and bacterio- 

 logical examinations of water, oysters, and clams were made in the 

 course of this work. The inspection of mineral springs and bottling 

 establishments is bein<r continued, with the attendant bacteriological 

 examinations, and similar cooperation is being given in the Bureau's 

 investigation of the desiccated and frozen egg industry. Consign- 

 ments of this product have already been seized and condemned as 

 being composed of badly decomposed and filthy material. Assistance 

 was also given in the milk campaigns conducted in Cincinnati and at 

 Boston and Springfield. The results indicate the necessity for further 

 activity along the lines of sanitary milk production. The increased 



73477°— AGE 1910 28 



