Micro-organisms of Maple Sap 431 



The moisture content of the six sirups averaged 37.15 with 

 extremes of 40.64 to 27.90% . The minimum amount is found in 

 No. 107, the only 191 1 sample in this series. 



The sucrose averages 59.05 and the extremes are 52.72 

 and 68.15%. The sample, No. 47, with the highest moisture con- 

 tent carries the lowest sucrose percentage. The relatively 

 large amount of invert sugar present is also a contributing fac- 

 tor. 



The invert sugar shows a surprising variation of from 

 0.41 to 4.69 with an average of 1.54%. This maximum figure, 

 in No. 47, when calculated to the moisture free basis is equivalent 

 to 7.90''. This result may be attributed to the action on tin- 

 sucrose of a certain strain of pink coccus. Other strains did not 

 give as positive evidences of sucrose inversion. 



No. 107, as compared with standard, is slightly deficient 

 in total and insoluble ash and in malic acid value. 



Group 5. Failures. The saps from which the sirups thus 

 characterized were made, were variously inoculated, but the intro- 

 duced organisms could not be recovered at the close of the in- 

 cubation period. The natural infection may have suppressed their 

 development or the inoculating organisms may have been killed 

 by those normally present. Whatever the infection, it had no 

 marked influence upon the results in the invert sugar column. 



The color averaged a little poorer in these samples than 

 in those previously mentioned under the head "incubator control," 

 while flavor showed a slight gain. 



