10 



either sweetened or unsweetened. The same product is used in the 

 preparation of cacao, or cocoa, as it is commonly called, after the 

 extraction of a portion of the fat. Both cacao and chocolate are 

 largely adulterated, cacao shells, wheat flour, sago flour, and other 

 materials of like nature being used for this purpose. Two samples 

 of adulterated cacao are shown on this shelf. 



Coffee. A large part of the space on shelves 5 and 6 is occupied by 

 samples of coffee and coffee substitutes. A number of samples of 

 standard varieties of coffee are shown, both in the green and roasted 

 condition. A striking similarity will be noticed in many cases 

 between high-priced and low-priced samples of green coffee, while 

 with roasted coffees this similarity is so great that eyen experts are 

 frequently unable to distinguish them by their physical appearance. 

 As illustrations of this may be noted the Java Peaberry, which sold 

 at wholesale at the time this exhibit was collected at 20 cents a pound, 

 and the Mexican and Santos Peaberry, which were sold at 13| and 12 

 cents, respectively. 



Again, the Bourbon Santos, which is grown in the province of San- 

 tos, Brazil, from the seed of the Arabian Mocha, closely resembles, 

 as might be expected, the Arabian Mocha coffee. Its flavor is very 

 different, however, and it commands a lower price in the market. 

 These illustrations are sufficient to illustrate the principle involved, 

 though they might be multiplied at will. 



A large part of the alleged high-grade coffee sold by the trade 

 belongs certainly to a much cheaper class of coffee than that for 

 which it is sold. At the same time good coffee can always be 

 obtained from reliable grocers. 



On shelf 6 of this case a large number of roasted coffees are shown 

 which illustrate even more strongly than green coffees the similarity 

 of the high and low grades. Several mixtures of cereals, pea hulls, 

 etc., which are sold as coffee, are also exhibited on this shelf, as well 

 as one sample of artificial coffee beans which is composed entirely of 

 flour. 



Flour. Owing to the firm attitude taken by American millers, the 

 adulteration of staple brands of flour is practically unknown; still 

 the samples of flour exhibited on shelf 6 are of considerable interest. 

 The milling industry was seriously threatened several years ago by 

 the extensive adulteration of wheat flour with a finely ground indian 

 corn preparation which was sold as " flourine." The influence of this 

 fraud in the price of flour was so disastrous that an organized fight 

 was inaugurated by the millers and resulted in the passage of a reve- 

 nue act which taxed and required the proper branding of mixtures of 

 this nature. The result of this law was most wholesome, and the 

 practice of adulterating wheat flour with indian corn products was 

 quickly and effectually checked. 



The ground soapstone, of which a sample is exhibited on this shelf, 



