432 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



Cincinnati laboratory. — An investigation of the manufacture 

 of so-called maraschino cherries was made the subject of a special 

 report to the bureau; the number of import samples examined was 

 greatly increased, and the range of food products analyzed was 

 extended. 



Denver laboratory. — Cooperative work for the elaboration of 

 methods has been done, embracing flavoring extracts, sugar, and 

 sugar products, and vinegar. The value of a new reagent, namely, 

 paraphenylene diamin hydrochlorid, for the determination of citral 

 m lemon oil has been experimented witJi and valuable data obtained. 

 Numerous misceUaneous investigations have been carried on, such as 

 studying different grades of coffee from the same packer in an en- 

 deavor to determine if the retail prices were consistent with whole- 

 sale values. 



Kansas City laboratory. — The photographic apparatus, adapted 

 especially for the reproduction of labels, etc., first devised in this 

 laboratory two years ago, was completed. Cooperative work was 

 done on the general investigations outlined by the bureau. 



Nashville laboratory. — About 23 per cent of the total inter- 

 state samples were classified as drugs, and nearly 40 per cent of these 

 were adulterated or misbranded. As these drugs were collected in 

 this southern territory, the results indicate to what extent this part 

 of the country is flooded with such concoctions. The claims were, 

 in many cases, of an extravagant nature and calculated to play upon 

 the imagination of the poorer class of people. This was the nrst 

 year of import work at Nashville, and 24 samples were examined, 

 of which 4 were found to be adulterated or misbranded. In col- 

 laboration with the bureau special investigations were made of the 

 manufacture and composition of a confection in order to learn what 

 effect the application of heat in the manufacture of this candy would 

 have on certain fat values of the finished product. Some work was 

 done on mixtures of coffee and chicory to obtain a method for the 

 determination of the percentage of chicory present, based on the 

 reducing power of pure coffee and mixtures of coffee and chicory. 



New Orleans laboratory.— Early in the spring consignments 

 of tomatoes from Habana were detained at this port, being misbranded 

 as "Florida east coast tomatoes," which are considered in this market 

 a better tomato than the Cuban variety. Eggplants marked "N. Y. 

 eggplants" were also detained. The incoming Habana boats were 

 met and the entire cargoes of fruit and vegetables inspected there- 

 after for about a month. Upon notification to the importers, and 

 through tli-em to the shippers, the practice of misbranding fruit and 

 vegetables was promptly discontinued. 



Omaha laboratory. — Research work on methods of analysis has 

 been conducted with special reference to the determination of sugar 

 in chocolate, of benzoic acid in food products, and of the iodin num- 

 ber on chicken fat. During the year a working equipment for bac- 

 teriological analysis has been installed to permit of a more complete 

 study of the condition of various food products. During the month of 

 June the working force of this laboratory were engaged in preparing 

 for, and assisting in, the field and laboratory work in connection with 



