CONVENTION OF OFFICIAL AGRICULTURAL CHEMISTS. 327 



Molasses Produced by Different Methods of Manufacture, and Com- 

 parison of Methods for Determining- Total Solids. 



Recommendations. — The referee and his associate on mechanical 

 methods for sugar analysis were directed to devote as much time as 

 seemed desirable during the coming year to cooperation with the com- 

 mittee of the International Commission for Unifying Methods of Sugar 

 Analysis; to continue testing the methods for the determination of 

 levulose and dextrose in the presence of sucrose; to continue the study 

 of methods for the identification and analysis of vegetable gums; and 

 to take steps toward perfecting methods for the determination of 

 caramel and other organic solids which accompany sugar in cane and 

 beet products. It was suggested that the referee test the use of 

 neutral oxalate of potash in place of sodium carbonate as a precipitant 

 for lead in clarified sugar solutions, and he was requested to submit to 

 collaborative test next year the method of molasses analysis outlined 

 at the meeting in 1903 (E. S. R., 15, p. 110), which is soon to be pub- 

 lished in detail. 



FOOD ADULTERATION. 



Reports were read on colors, by Milton Gr. Berry; distilled liquors, 

 by C. A. Crampton; baking powder and baking powder chemicals, by 

 R. O. Brooks; tea and coffee, by Hermann C. Lythgoe; beer, by H, E. 

 Barnard; fats and oils, by L. M. Tplman; and dairy products, by A. E. 

 Leach. W. Frear and R. O. Brooks called attention, in a short note, 

 to a Limitation of the Arata and the Sostegni and Carpentieri Tests. 

 The report on colors is a compilation and was submitted only in out- 

 line. It is to be published in full in circular form. The report on 

 distilled liquors gave the results on three samples of liquors by a 

 number of collaborators, which were quite satisfactory, indicating the 

 present methods of the association to be efficient. The other reports 

 detailed rather briefly the work done on special methods, and were 

 largeh T reports of progress. 



Recommendations. — Practically no changes of importance were made 

 in the official methods relating to food adulteration, and the recom- 

 mendations related to the further testing of methods which have been 

 suggested for various products and the consideration by the referee 

 for next } T ear of various suggestions made in the reports of the asso- 

 ciate referees at this meeting. Provisional methods were adopted for 

 tea and coffee, which are too lengthy for publication here. 



TANNIN. 



The referee for this subject. Gr, A. Kerr, presented a report on 

 analyses of wood extracts, fresh and leached bark, and fresh chestnut 

 wood by the official method; studies on the cause of variation in soluble 

 and insoluble matter found in extracts; and a further investigation of 



