j6 southern CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 



The Seismologieal Commission of the British Aasociation inferred from 

 the data collected that the crust of the earth was not more than forty 

 miles thick, the interior having a very high effective rigidity and the 

 nucleus being probably more uniform in its chemical and physical condi- 

 tions than was usually supposed. — (Science, Yol. XVIII, No. 464.) 



"In Olive Oil and Its Substitutes," there may be found an interesting 

 and accurate analysis of the oils imported inlo and produced in this 

 countrj^. The following is the summarj^ of the author's investigation a: 



1. The olive oil eonsmned in this country is largely imported from 

 France and Italy. The amount produced in California is relatively 

 small, although reports warrant the statement that California is capable 

 of supplying the entire home demand. 



2. The cos't of production of California oil is so much higher than 

 that of the French and Italian oils that it competeis with difficulty with 

 the imported oils in the American market, even after the latter have 

 paid duty amounting to 50 cents per gallon. 



3. The retail prices of the best grade of oil from the three sources 

 are much the same, but the average prices of the imported oils are much 

 less than that of the California oil, owing to the large amount of lower 

 grade foreign oils that are marketed in this country. 



4. In the examination of olive oils for adulteration, a complete 

 analysis is usually necessary to reveal the real nature of tSe oil. In cases' 

 of gross adulteration the qualitative tests, specific gravity, and index 

 of refraction will often s'how the nature of the adulterant and the extent 

 to which it is emj)lo3'ed. 



" 5. The adulteration of foreign oils imported into this country is prac- 

 ticed to a much less extent than is popiilarly supposed. Only 5 of the 61 

 samples obtained from the customs' officers were found to contain other 

 than olive oil, and none of these contained cotton-seed oil. On the other 

 hand, oils bought upon the market, bearing labels indicating a foreign 

 origin, were found to be quite extensively adulterated with cotton-seed 

 oil. It seems, therefore, probable that these adulterated oils bearing 

 foreign labels are labeled and modified after leaving the port of entry, 

 neither the domestic nor the foreign producer being responsible for them. 

 This practice is equall.y injurious to the interests of the California, 

 Irench, or Italian manufacturer of pure olive oil and the consumer. 



6. The results of analyses of oils of known purity show that there is a 

 wide range in the various values ordinarily considered of importance 

 in indicating the inirity of an oil. This is especially true of the iodin 

 number, the melting point of fatty acids, and the percentage of solid 

 fatty acids. The California olive oils generally have a higher iodin num- 

 ber, a lower melting point of fatty acids, and a lower percentage of solid 

 fatty acids than the French and Italian oils. 



7. All samples containing other than olive oil were sold as pure 

 olive oil, although in one case a careful observation of the label revealed 

 the fact that the oil was an olive oil substitute. 



The alfalfa btitterfiy (Colias eurytheme) has so increased in numbers 

 since 1895 that the honey flow which used to continue well into Septem- 

 ber is now cut short in July. The adulteration of honey, in Arizona, is 

 not commercially possible for the excellent reason that freight rates so 

 enhance the price of glucose and sugar that these adulterants cannot 

 be profitably used.— (' 'Bee-products in Arizona." By R. H. Forbes.) 



The local Historical Society have begun to agitate for State help in 

 the establishment of a building to house their valuable historical books 

 and relics. We have reached that point in civic evolution where a mu- 

 seum is almost an absolute necessity for educational purposes. Our 

 Academy sections alone could in a few years stock a museum with all 

 the representative objects native to the West. 



