LETTER OF SUBMITTAL 



VIRGINIA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION, 



Blacksburg, Va., June 23, 

 SIR: In pursuance of a commission from the Secretary of Agricul- 

 ture, dated September 13, 1900, appointing- me a special agent in the 

 Division of Chemistry, and of j^our official instructions of the same 

 date, I beg to submit the accompan}' ing report, comprising a partial 

 study of the cider industry in Europe, which has been prepared for 

 the -U. S. Department of Agriculture. 



The present paper comprises only a part of the work authorized by 

 the commission issued to me, and carried on under conjoint direction. 

 The aim has been to present a practical and popular treatment of the 

 subject, so far as the time at my disposal permitted me to carry the 

 inquiry. Necessarily this report must be fragmentary and incom- 

 plete, as one person could not possibly cover the entire ground in a 

 single season. 



From the complex nature of the work undertaken, it has seemed 

 best to present two reports the present one dealing with the economic 

 and practical data collected, and a second report dealing with the more 

 technical study of methods of fermentation and related matters, such 

 as a study of the organisms commonly found in apple juice, and the 

 importance of the isolation, culture, and employment of pure yeasts 

 in the manufacture of ciders and other fermented beverages made 

 from fruit juices. A discussion of the organisms causing mal-fermen- 

 tations will also be attempted. 



Veiy respectfully submitted. 



WM. B. ALWOOD, 



Special Agent. 

 Dr. H. W. WILEY, Chief, Bureau of Chemistry, 



U. S. Department of Agriculture. 

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