SPICES AND CONDIMENTS. 



215 



Moisture, loss at 100 C 



Ether extract 



Alcohol extract 



Water extract 



Starch, calc., from dextrine and maltose 



Fiber, residue from diastatic action 



Crude fiber by acid and alkali 



Ash 



Matter not accounted for in the starch products 



Per 

 cent. 



10.10 



3. 58 



3.38 



3.66 



52.92 



19. 12 



2.60 



4.80 



1.50 



99.06 



Practically we have learned from all that has been hitherto done in 

 the proximate examination of ginger that the ash may vary from 3.4 to 

 8.0 per cent, in genuine samples, and fiber from 1.7 to 9.0 per cent. 

 Young and Jones differ altogether too much on other points to be of any 

 value. We are therefore in need of further information to enable us to 

 detect the addition of spent ginger as an adulterant, the differences in 

 determinations of fiber being so wide as to render this determination of 

 no value, since it is possible to even reduce the amount of fiber by such 

 an addition and judicious selection. 



With a view to extending our knowledge of the subject we have ex- 

 amined a number of pure gingers, obtained from the importers and 

 several samples of ginger found in the local markets, some of which, as 

 was learned from the microscopic examination, were adulterated with 

 farinaceous matter and foreign hulls. The results were : 



Analyses of gingers. 

 Sources of samples : 



4506. Scraped Jamaica, limed, whole. 



4889. Whole Calcutta ginger root, unscraped and unbleached. 



4890. Whole Cochin ginger root, unscraped and unbleached. 



4891. Whole Jamaica ginger root, unscraped and unbleached. 



4892. Whole Jamaica ginger root, London market, bleached. 



4893. Whole Jamaica ginger root, American market, bleached. 



4507. White ground Jamaica, " pure." 

 4521. Brown, ground in Washington. 

 4526. Brown, ground in Baltimore. 

 4541. Genuine Borneo, English brand. 

 4549. Brown. 



4242. Mohawk, N. Y. 



4875. Ground giuger ; Baltimore Spice Mills, " pure." 



4876. Ground ginger, Baltimore Spice Mills, "best." 

 Microscopical examination : 



4506 and 4889-4893. Pure standards. 



4507. Not as much fiber matter as in the preceding, but no adulterants detected. 



4521. Good brown ginger. 



4526. Starch, turmeric, and foreign husks. 



4541. Good and white. 



4549. Starch, and perhaps turmeric ; brown. 



4242. Starch and some questionable substance. 



4875 and 4876. Cereals and cayenne; perhaps exhausted ginger. 



