118 



EEPOET OP THE COMMISSIONER OP AGRICULTURE. 



The next trials were made -witli a sample of separated honey. 

 The final drying (t. e., after addition of the anhydrous alcohol) was 

 continued for 1^ hours in the steam bath, at 98o.5. 



To determine the proper length of time to secure the best results on 

 final drying, the following determinations were made: 



The samples were taken from a can of glucose made from sorghum 

 seed. 



The temperature of the steam oven remained uniformly at 98.5° C. 



These results show that the final drying should be continued for six 

 hours. Since an oven like the one used will hold a hundred dishes, and 

 has an automatic valve to maintain a constant pressure of steam, and 

 therefore a constant temperature, the long drying is atte:nded with no 

 inconvenience. 



The above procedure can be safely recommended as the best method 

 of accurately determining the free water in substances like those men- 

 tioned. It can also be employed for other bodies insoluble in alcohol, 

 but soluble in ether, &c., such as the fats. In all cases, however, these 

 determinations should be made in duplicate or triplicate. In a matter 

 of such difficulty, and often of such importance, a single trial should 

 not be regarded as final. 



KUMYS. 



Fermented mare's milk has long been a favorite beverage in the East, 

 where it is known as "kumys." Although the Tartars and other Asiat ii- 

 tribes use mare's milk for the manufacture of kumys, yet it is not liic 

 only kind that can be employed. Since the consumption of milkwiin' 

 has extended westward, cow's mOk is chiefly employed for makin^; it. 

 both in Europe and America. Mare's milk is considered most suitable 

 for fermentation because of the large percentage of milk-sugar which 

 it contains. 



Koenig* gives as the average percentage of milk-sugar in mare's milk 

 6.31. The same author t gives as a mean of 377 analyses of cow's milk 

 4.81 per cent, lactose. Dr. Stahlberg,J who brought forty mares from 



• Nahnmgsmittel, p. 46. t Op. oit., p. 40. % Tymowski's Bedeutung des Eumys, p. 12. 



