IX] SACCHARINE PRODUCTS 133 



HONEY." 



34 PREPARATION OF SAMPLE.— TENTATIVE. 



(a) Liquid or strained honey. — If the sample is free from granulation, mix thor- 

 oughly by stirring or shaking before drawing weighed portions for the analytical 

 determination. If the honey is granulated, place the container, having the stopper 

 loose, in a water bath, and heat at a temperature not exceeding 50°C. until the sugar 

 crystals dissolve; mix thoroughly, cool, and weigh portions for the analytical de- 

 terminations. If sediment such as particles of comb, wax, sticks, bees, etc., are 

 present, heat the sample to 40°C. in a water bath and filter through cheese-cloth 

 before weighing portions for analj'sis. 



(b) Comb honey.— Cut across the top of the comb, if sealed, and separate com- 

 pletely from the comb by straining through a 40 mesh sieve. When portions of the 

 comb or wax pass through the sieve, heat the sample as in (a) and strain through 

 cloth. If the honey is granulated in the comb, heat until the wax is liquified, stir, 

 cool, remove the wax and take the clear liquid for analysis. 



35 MOISTURE. 



Weigh 2 grams of the sample into a tared, flat-bottomed aluminium dish, having a 

 diameter of about 60 mm. and containing 10-15 grams of fine quartz sand, which has 

 been previously washed, dried and ignited, and a small glass stirring rod; add 5-10 

 cc. of water and thoroughly incorporate with the sand and honey mixture by means 

 of the rod; dry the dish and its contents to constant weight in a vacuum oven at 

 a temperature not exceeding 70°C. 



36 ASH.— OFFICIAL. 



Weigh 5-10 grams of honey into a platinum dish, add a few drops of pure olive 

 oil to prevent spattering, and heat carefully until swelling ceases and then ignite 

 at a temperature not above dull redness until a white ash is obtained. 



37 SOLUBLE ASH.— TENTATIVE. 



Proceed as directed under 17. 



38 ALKALINITY OF THE SOLUBLE ASH.-TENTATIVE. 



Proceed as directed under 18. 



POLARIZATION. 



39 Direct Polarization. — Tentative. 



(a) Immediate direct polarization. — Transfer 26 grams of the honey to a 100 

 cc. flask with water, add 5 cc. of alumina cream, dilute to the mark with water at 

 20°C., filter, and polarize immediately in a 200 mm. tube. 



(b) Constant direct polarization. — Pour the solution from the tube used in read- 

 ing (a) back into the flask, stopper, and allow to stand for 24 hours. At the end of 

 this time again polarize the solution at 20°C. in a 200 mm. tube. 



(C) Birotation. — The difference between (a) and (b) gives the birotation. 

 (d) Direct polarization at 87°C. — Polarize the solution, obtained in (b), at 87°C. 

 in a jacketed 200 mm. tube. 



