LETTER OE TRANSMITTAL 



U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, 



BUREAU OF CHEMISTRY, 

 Washington, I). 6 7 ., July 5, 1905. 



SIR: I have the honor to transmit for your inspection and approval 

 a manuscript containing the results of a recent study made in the Divi- 

 sion of Foods of this Bureau of the changes in chemical composition 

 of peaches during their growth, ripening, and storage. In this study, 

 as in the work on apples recently reported, the office of pomologi- 

 cal investigations, Bureau of Plant Industry, has collaborated. The 

 present investigation is a continuation of a series of studies on 

 fruits, beginning with the study of the apple published as Bulletin 

 94 of this Bureau. The chemical methods employed in the study of 

 the apple have also been applied to the study of the peach. For this 

 work the writers had exceptional opportunities to secure a wide range 

 of varieties of peaches grown under similar and well-known cultural 

 conditions. The varieties were selected and secured by Mr. William 

 A. Taylor, pomologist in charge of field investigations of the Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture. The fruit was grown on the farm of Mr. M. B. 

 Waite, at Woodwardville, Md., in the summer of 1904. I recommend 

 that this report be published as Bulletin No. 97 of the Bureau of 

 Chemistry. 



Respectfully, 



W. D. BIGELOW, 



Acting Chief. 

 Hon. JAMES WILSON, 



Secretary of Agriculture. 



