676 FOODS AND FOOD ADULTERANTS. 



bered, however, that the annual output of maple sugar in this country 

 approximates 20,000 tons, and this would be sufficient to supply a great 

 demand. Maple sugar is chiefly used, outside of the area of its manu- 

 facture, as a delicacy and not in general consumption. 



No. 117 Extra C. This sample is distinguished by having the 

 lowest polarization of any in the list, viz, 74.56. It shows in a marked 

 way how much water and molasses can be incorporated in a sugar with 

 fair color and merchantable conditions. This sugar was selling for 6 

 cents a pound when sugar of 99.5 purity was bringing only 8 cents. 

 The relative value of the sugar in the two samples at 9 cents a pound 

 for pure sugar is as follows ; 



Value of 99.5 sugar at 9 cents for pure 100 sugar, 8.96 cents. 

 Value of 74.56 sugar at 9 cents for pure 100 sugar, 6.71 cents. 



At the rate of 6 cents per pound for 74.56 sugar, 100 sugar 

 would cost 8.38 cents a pound. At the rate of 8 cents for 99.5 

 sugar, 100 sugar would cost 8.04 cents a pound. It is seen at once, 

 therefore, that in respect of the quantity of pure sugar obtained the 

 purchaser of the low-grade sugar is at a disadvantage. This, however, 

 is an extreme case. In most cases prices and purity are so adjusted as 

 to give approximately the same quantity of pure sugar for the same 

 price. 



High polarizing sugars. A pure sugar under certain definite condi- 

 tions corresponds with the 100 mark on the polariscopic scale. This 

 scale is fixed arbitrarily, and the quantity of pure sugar required to 

 rea-i 100 in a given volume of solution varies with different instru- 

 ments. When, however, in a given accurate instrument, a reading of 

 more than 100 is obtained for a sample of sugar, it shows either some 

 analytical error or else the presence in the sugar of some body having 

 a higher specific rotatory power than sucrose. It was noticed that sev- 

 eral samples of grauulatt-d sugar examined in the laboratory of the 

 Department of Agriculture showed a rotation slightly greater than 

 100. These values will be discussed below. In the case of No. 139 of 

 the samples now under discussion, a polarization of 100 is noticed with 

 a trace of moisture arid ash. This may have been due to a slight error 

 in reading, which may sometimes amount to as much as 0.2, or to 

 some high rotating material in the sugar under examination. Mr. Hus- 

 ton's polariscope was almost exactly correct, giving a reading of 99.7 

 with the sugar sent, against 99.73, the mean of numerous readings in 

 the Department laboratory, checked by a quartz plate, standardized by 

 the office of weights and measures, U. S. Coast and Geodetic Survey. 



ANALYSES OF H. H. NICHOLSON. 



Samples. The samples examined by Prof. Nicholson were purchased 

 at Red Cloud, Beatrice, Lincoln, and Omaha, Nebr. They consist 

 chiefly of low-grade sugars, only two, Nos. 25. and 40, reaching the grade 

 of pure granulated sugars. 



