450 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



gauzes and bandages, 51 samples of oysters, 312 samples of water, 

 16 samples of soap, miscellaneous 73, a total of 1,700 research sam- 

 ples, and a general total of 2,956 samples examined during the year. 



SUGAR AND SUGAR PRODUCTS. 



MAPLE PRODUCTS. 



The investigation on the maple products of the United States, 

 begun two 3^ears ago, has been completed in part. The original 

 samples collected have all been analyzed, as well as 110 samples 

 collected during the past year, and the results of the investigation of 

 maple-sap sirup have been published in Chemistry Bulletin No. 134. 

 The analytical figures on maple sugar and maple-sugar sirup have 

 been compiled; but one or two conditions have oeen found on which 

 more work will be necessary before this part of the investigation can 

 be considered finished. This work will be done during the coming 

 maple season. It has been noted that the metal containers for sap, 

 and also the metal from which evaporators are made, seem to in- 

 fluence the product greatly. A special study of this point during the 

 last season gave encouraging results and will be continued. The 

 studies of the chemical composition of sirup and sugar, as affected by 

 the souring of the sap, are still going on. As the maple season is so 

 short, lasting not more than two weeks or a month, the manufacturing 

 of samples must be done during that time and analyses made later, so 

 that but little apparent progress can be made in one season. 



EFFECT OF ENVIRONMENT ON SUGAR CONTENT OF MUSKMELONS, ETC. 



Having completed a five years' study on sugar beets and another 

 on sweet Indian corn, the environment work for the past year was 

 done on muskmelons. Stations were selected at points in Florida, 

 Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, Indiana, Maryland, New Jersey, and 

 Connecticut, where these fruits are grown extensively. The same 

 strain of seed was planted at each place, having been selected by the 

 Bureau of Plant Industry, which bureau also cooperated by super- 

 vising the growing of the crops. Many analyses were made of the 

 crops and the data for the first year, which have been compiled, 

 indicate results of interest and profit. While, of course, no con- 

 clusions can be based on one year s work, it appears that the climatic 

 conditions induced by relatively lower temperature and higher alti- 

 tude interacting on each other result in sweeter melons. Many 

 factors, however, enter into the problem and this year's work is only 

 suggestive. 



MOISTURE CONTENT OF LOUISIANA CANE SIRUP AND MOLASSES. 



An investigation of the moisture content of cane sirup and molasses 

 was begun during the past sugar-making season in Louisiana. Sam- 

 ples of these products were collected by the official inspector sta- 

 tioned in New Orleans, at the sugar factory, at the Sugar Exchange, 

 and at the plants of the mixers and blenders of molasses in the same 

 place. These samples were sent to Washington and the analytical 

 work thereon has been finished and the results reported to the Board 

 of Food and Drug Inspection. 



