148 



FOODS AND FOOD ADULTERANTS. 



Unfortunately, with the exception of pepper and nutmeg, the tables 

 giving tho countries from which the imports were made do not distin- 

 guish between the spices. We are, however, able to see that a large 

 portion of our supply comes through England, and the effect of this 

 upon its quality is certainly not to improve it. The amount of each 

 spice entered for consumption is visible in the last table and the port 

 of arrival as well. New York of course receives the largest portion, 

 followed by Boston and Baltimore, which are both milling centers. 



As the spices are offered by the wholesale merchant they have a va- 

 riable value, the quotations in New York for the week ending Decem- 

 ber 27, 1886, being as follows: 



It is of interest to examine these figures and compare them with the 

 prices of wholesalers and retailers of ground spices. 



The following figures show that prices alone are often a good indica- 

 tion of adulteration, the ground article being sold at wholesale or 

 even retail for less than the cost of the pure unground spice. 





