VEGETABLE POWDERS 



191 



Fig. 7. AGAR. a and 6, two species of dictams which are constantly present 

 in agar. The larger species is Arachnodiscus Ehrenbergii Bail, c and d, mucilaginous 

 tissue elements of agar as they appear in the commercial article. 



6. (Fig. 7.) AGAR. Agar. U. S. 



Granulated. 



The bleached and specially prepared seaweeds belonging to the 

 Rhodophyceae, represented by species of Gracilaria and Gelidium. 



Hard granular when dry; mucilaginous when moist. 



Pale brownish color. 



Odorless when dry, seaweed odor when moist. 



Tasteless, mucilaginous. 



The process of preparing the seaweed for the market does not 

 entirely destroy the cell structure, and in even the highest and purest 

 grades of commercial agar cell remnants and the siliceous skeletons 

 of diatoms may be found. 



The ash of a good quality of commercial agar should not exceed 

 4 per cent. 



Agar is seldom adulterated. It may be mixed with other sea- 

 weeds and it has been mixed with starch and cereal, although this is of 

 rare occurrence. Agar is used as an adulterant, being occasionally 

 added to jellies and as a filler to ice cream. 



