ANNUAL REPORT, 1943-44 27 



16.6 mg. of ascorbic acid, 1.56 mg. of riboflavin, and .33 mg. of thiamine per 

 liter. The American-process chocolate milk contained 15.4 mg. of ascorbic acid, 

 1.50 mg. of riboflavin, and .31 mg. of thiamine per liter; and the Dutch-process 

 chocolate milk contained 11.5 mg. of ascorbic acid, 1.37 mg. of riboflavin, and 

 .25 mg. of thiamine per liter. From a practical standpoint, these results indicate 

 that chocolate milk made with American-process cocoa had essentially the same 

 vitamin value as the pasteurized milk but the chocolate milk made with Dutch- 

 process cocoa contained much less ascorbic acid, riboflavin, and thiamine. Since 

 these results were obtained from assays made as soon as the chocolate milk was 

 compounded they may not apply to chocolate milk that has been stored for vary- 

 ing periods of time before being consumed. 



The Ascorbic Acid Content of Late-Winter Tomatoes. (Arthur D. Holmes, 

 Carleton P. Jones, and Walter S. Ritchie.) The tomato is frequently listed as 

 one of the richest vegetable sources of ascorbic acid (vitamin C), field-grown, 

 fully ripened, vine-matured, summer tomatoes containing about 25 mg. of 

 ascorbic acid per 100 grams. However, during the late winter and early spring 

 months one finds on the market tomatoes that in neither color, taste, nor physical 

 appearance compare in quality with the summer tomatoes. This study was con- 

 cerned with the value of these late-winter tomatoes as a source of ascorbic acid. 



The tomatoes were purchased from local stores in retail plackages or by the 

 pound, just as a homemaker would purchase them for home use. The results of 

 58 assays showed that average late-winter tomatoes contain 8.8 mg. of ascorbic 

 acid per 100 grams. In computing the vitamin C value of a diet containing 

 late-winter tomatoes, therefore, one should not assign to them more than one- 

 third the ascorbic acid value ordinarily used for fully ripe, summer tomatoes. 



Riboflavin Content of Immature Massachusetts Lettuce. (Arthur D. Holmes.) 

 The lettuce used in this study was produced by the Agronomy Department under 

 growing conditions quite typical for this locality. 



The immature Boston head lettuce was picked during a three-weeks' period 

 just before it began to form heads. At this stage all the leaves were spread out 

 and exposed to light and sunshine. The plants were pulled from the ground 

 early in the morning. The entire leafy portion of the plant except the lower mid- 

 ribs was used and the assays were started within twenty minutes after the plant 

 was taken from the ground, A condition quite different from that for lettuce pur- 

 chased in the store. The riboflavin content of the 17 samples varied from 0.105 

 mg. to 0.155 mg. with an average of 0.124 mg. per 100 gm. These results show 

 that immature Boston head lettuce eaten shortly after it is picked is a good 

 vegetable source of riboflavin, and the evidence accumulated indicates that 

 farmers and victory gardeners might well begin to consume lettuce before it 

 reaches the heading stage. 



CONTROL SERVICES 

 Philip H. Smith in Charge 



The fertilizer, feed, seed and dairy laws are administered as one ser\'ice and the 

 operations of each of these, with the exception of the dairy law, are completely 

 reported in annual bulletins issued for that purpose. 



Besides the regular control activities the laboratory, through its staff, co- 

 operates liberally on numerous research projects active in other departments and 

 also performs many analytical and testing services for State institutions and for 



