512 EXPERIMENT STATION EECOED. 



therefore, in no way tampered with, nor Lad they been stored by dealers in 

 tanks not properly cleaned. 



" The statement generally made that the housewife fails to keep her lamps 

 properly cleaned, in the light of experiments heretofore reported upon, wonld 

 not seem, in many cases, to be the real cause of failure to burn." 



Division of pharmacy [report^ by L. A. Brown (pp. 121-150, pis. 5). — Details 

 are given of the examination of a large number of products and proprietary 

 articles under the provisions of the State law. 



Report of practical paint tests hcf/un in 1905 l)y C. D. HoUey (pp. 151-162). — 

 The results of experimental tests of paint are summarized, but as the paints 

 have been applied only for a year the author does not believe that final deduc- 

 tions can be drawn. 



Annual report of the chemical section of the Hygienic Institute of the 

 University of Halle, M. Klostermann (Hyg. Rundschau, IS {190S), No. 10, 

 pp. 572-592). — A report of the examination of a number of samples of meat and 

 meat goods, milk, culinary fats and oils, water, wine, and other materials. 



[Miscellaneous analyses], E. F. Ladd (Xorth Dakota Sta. Rpt. 1907. pt. 1. 

 pp. Mi-'fl. 'i2-'i'i). — In 102 samples of formalin analyzed the formaldehyde con- 

 tent was found to range from 38 to 41.62 per cent. Analyses are also reported 

 of proprietary stock feeds. lin.seed meal, bran, middlings, Paris green, sugar 

 Ijeets, and a soft black mineral product that oozes from the earth in the locality 

 of lignite coal veins. 



Commercial Sicilian sumac, F. P. Yeitch and B. J. Howard ( U. 8. Dept. 

 Ayr.. Bur. Cheni. Bui. 117, p. 32, pis. 3). — Sicilian sumac (Rhus coriaria) is 

 the best vegetable tanning material known for pale colors and soft tannage. 

 Sumac-tanned leathers are less likely to be attacked by light and gas fumes, 

 hence are well suited for bookbinding. A good quality of Sicilian sumac is 

 high priced and dealers have complained that stems and other material are 

 added. The culture and preparation of sumac for market are described. Italian 

 laws require that adulterated sumac shall be so labeled. 



Samples were submitted to both chemical and microscopical analysis. Con- 

 trary to results of English chemists the largest percentage of tannin was 

 obtained by extracting above the temperature of 60° C. The most common 

 adulterant found was Pistacia lentiscus. Others less common are Coriaria 

 myrtifolia. Tamarix africana, Ailanthus gladulosa, Vitis rinifera, and other 

 species of Rhus. 



" Approximately 41 per cent of the invoices from which samples were taken 

 [in 1905] were mixed with lentiscus, this being practically the only adulterant 

 employed, except sumac stems, which were present in excessive quantities in 

 a number of samples. The adulterated samples contained from 19.6 per cent 

 to .33..3 per cent and averaged 26.6 per cent of tannin, or 2.2 per cent less than 

 the average of all the sumac samples. A number of the samples contained an 

 excess of sumac stems, and the average tannin content of these was 29.9 per 

 cent, which indicates that the stems are not added in such large quantities as 

 is the lentiscus. The samples of pure sumac contained from 27.4 to 35.1 per 

 cent and averaged 31.9 per cent of tannin." 



Investigations of 1907 showed that 25 per cent of the 53 samples examined 

 were adulterated. The average available tannin of the 53 samples was 29.4 

 per cent and of the adulterated samples 26.3 per cent. Tables of analyses and 

 details of the methods of the examination are given. One of the most reliable 

 indications of adulteration is the color of the dried sample, lentiscus darkening 

 greatly on heating. 



Official and provisional methods of analysis, Association of Official Agri- 

 cultural Chemists, edited by H. W. Wiley (U. 8. Dept. Ayr., Bur. Chem. Bui. 



