, \ 
} REPORT Of THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE.’ 39: 
ei ing adulterations in them. A large eaantien of photographs of such 
; crystals have been successfully made, showing in many cases marked 
 divergencies of form. At first great difficulty was experienced in 
' portraying some of the important details of these crystalline bodies, 
- and other difficulties presented themselves in the reproduction of the 
_ photographs by any of the photo-mechanical processes known, but 
- inconsideration of the great interest manifested in this new scientific 
_ work, both in the United States and in Europe, a number of artists 
- engaged in photography and photo-mechanical reproduction of 
_ ‘photography have each endeavored to excel in the production of 
illustrations of this work, and it is hoped that a process of reproduc- 
tion has been discovered which will ‘enable us,to fairly represent 
them and lead to a better understanding of these crystalline types 
- than has heretofore been possible. 
In addition to the work on these investigations, the Microscopist 
has been largely called upon to make examinations of butter for the 
- general public and for wholesale and retail dealers in pure butter 
who frequently send samples to this division for examination before 
a purchase is made. 
Dealers in oleomargarine have in like manner submitted samples 
for examination, their object being to protect themselves and the 
public against inferior goods of this kind. 
1 The result of an investigation of palm fibers, undertaken by the 
_ division in the interests of a branch of the Navy Department, will 
appear with illustrations in the forthcoming annual report. 
,, There have also been examined during the year the ultimate cell- 
’ structure of the following class of fibers: Combed manila hemp, pure 
_ .manilayarn, Sisal hemp, pure Sisal twine, pure Mauritius aloe, Mau- 
ritius aloe hemp, and New Zealand hemp. This work was under- 
taken at the request of merchants, for the purpose of detecting fraudu- 
lent sales of mixed fibers of this character. : 
Illustrations of their respective forms are in preparation, and will 
_be photographed for public purposes. While the fibers have a gen- 
' eral similarity of form, differences in their respective diameters and 
in the angles of their terminal points may afford a means of dis- 
criminating between them. 
Other investigations have been made in emergency cases, such as 
] the examination of cream-puifs, confections, ice-cream supposed to 
have been poisoned, milk, drinking water, etc. 
: A large correspondence has also been carried on with persons in 
_ various parts of the United States, Canada, and in European coun- 
' tries, in answer to inquiries relating to the general work of the Mi- 
_eroscopist. 
. 
POMOLOGICAL DIVISION. 
This newly established division is subserving well the purposes for 
which it was organized, and there is abundant evidence that the as- 
