412 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



various analysts are reported, and attention called to the importance 

 of the association making a more systematic study of the nitrogen 

 compounds in milk. No definite conclusions were drawn, but it was 

 recommended that the work on the determination of albumin in milk 

 be continued. 



In the detection of renovated butter six methods were followed. It 

 was the intention when the reports were all in to send out other 

 samples, using only those methods which gave the best results. From 

 the work as far as reported it has been found possible to determine 

 whether the sample is or is not genuine butter. If it is not genuine 

 butter, the ordinary chemical methods for the examination of the fat 

 will show whether the sample is oleomargarine or renovated butter. 

 No recommendations were made, and it was suggested that the work 

 along this line be continued during the coming year. 



G. E. Patrick read a paper on the determination of oleomargarine 

 and renovated butter, embodying the results obtained in the Depait- 

 ment chemical lalwratory. 



SUGAR. 



The report on sugar was made by the referee, E. E. Ewell. He 

 considered it more important to devise new methods for sugars than to 

 test and try to eliminate the deficiencies of old ones. He stated that 

 there were several important lines of work which ought to be taken 

 up, and called attention to the great need of an official method for 

 sugar beets. No recommendations were made except in reference to 

 the division of the work. These were that (1) there be a referee for 

 optical methods, (2) a referee for the determination of reducing sugars, 

 and (3) a referee for the study of the analytical methods of the sugar 

 industry. These recommendations were adopted. 



TANNIN. 



The report on tannin was read by the referee, W. K. Alsop. Four 

 samples of tanning materials were sent out for testing by the official 

 method and by the chromed hide powder method. A summaiy of the 

 results of the cooperative work was given, and also the opinion of 

 the various analysts. The referee concludes from these that (1) the 

 results obtained by the use of wet chromed hide powder are more 

 accurate than those with unchromed hide, (2) more concordant results 

 can also be obtained in the use of the weaker solutions, (3) the method 

 of dr^^ng has not much influence on the tannin result when the deter- 

 minations are made in the same manner, and (4) the determination of 

 soluble solids is a weak point and some method should be adopted 

 which chemists will follow. The greatest objection to the method of 

 using wet chromed hide was stated to have been the length of time 

 required, which is 3 days; but by a series of experiments the referee 



