8 



It is not advisable to filter before adding the alcohol, nor has it been 

 found necessary, as no precipitate appears at that point. Repeated 

 trials have also shown that heating to boiling and filtering immedately 

 after adding calcium chlorid and alcohol not only incurs a possible loss 

 of material due to bumping, but gives results which are always lower 

 and are seldom concordant. The method has given satisfactory results 

 on a wide range of samples, yet it is not claimed at the present stage 

 of the investigation that the results express absolutely the malic acid 

 present; they are given only as "values" which are shown to be sig- 

 nificant. 



All of the methods should be subjected to careful criticism, and col- 

 laborating chemist are requested to point out defects and suggest 

 improvements. 



JULIUS HORTVET, 

 Associate referee on saccharine products, A. 0. A. C., 



Dairy and Food Department, 



St. Paul, Minn. 

 Recommended for publication : 

 H. W. WILEY, 



Chief of Bureau and Secretary A. 0. A. C. 



Approved : 



JAMES WILSON, 



Secretary of Agriculture. 



WASHINGTON, D. C., March 25, 1905. 



O 



