REPORT OF THE CHEMIST.. 
- I have the honor to submit herewith the report of the work done 
by the Chemical Division for the year 1887. 
This work may be classified as follows: First, the continuation of 
the subject of investigations of food adulteration; second, investiga- — 
tions connected with the manufacture of sugar from sorghum and 
sugar-canes; third, studies of agricultural products ; and, fourth, mis- 
cellaneous work. The investigation of adulteritians has continued 
euelly in the same line as was pointed out in the annual report 
or 1886. 
The chief object of investigation has been to determine the char- 
acter of adulteration practiced and the best methods of detecting it. 
The work of determining the extent of adulteration is more properly 
left to the State experiment stations and State municipal boards of 
health. The results of the investigations are published in Bulletin 
13 of the Chemical Division. In the last annual report abstracts of 
the first and second parts of this bulletin were given. ‘They were 
devoted to dairy products and to spices and condiments. During 
the last year one additional part of Bulletin 13 has been issued on the 
’ subject of fermented drinks. In this bulletin the subjects of wines,, 
_ beers, and ciders were considered. Two other parts of Bulletin 13 
are now in an advanced state of preparation, viz, baking powders 
and lards. 
‘The work on theinvestigation of the sugar-making qualities of sor- 
ghum and sugar-canes has been carried on at three different stations, 
viz, Rio Grande, N. J., Fort Scott, Kans., and Lawrence (Magnolia 
Plantation), La. The results of these investigations appear in Bul- 
letin 17, already published, and Bulletin 18, now almost ready for 
the press. Those results mark a successful close of a long series of 
investigations undertaken by the department, which have been car- 
ried on under many difficulties and discouragements. The character 
of the work which has been accomplished will fully appear in the _ 
abstracts which are to follow. 
The miscellaneous work of the department has been of a varied 
character, and it appears to me of little value. This miscellaneous 
work has consisted in analyses of samples of ores, mineral waters, 
soils, fertilizers, etc. It is true that quite a number of these investi- 
gations have proved of value in themselves, but they do not illustrate 
any line of methodical research, and thus fail to appear in their 
proper light. Abstracts of the more valuable work of this kind will 
follow. In regard to this miscellaneous work I desire to say that, 
with a limited force at our disposal and the meager laboratory facil- 
181 
