50 Maine: agricui^tural Experime^nt station. 1910. 



CURRANTS AND RAISINS. 



Quite a large number of samples of these important dried 

 fruits were purchased in different parts of the State. The 

 goods that were purchased were all package goods. They were 

 examined for weight, percentage of dry matter and for their 

 condition as regards cleanliness, freedom from dirt and the 

 presence of worms or worm excreta. 



The following method was used for estimating the amount 

 of dirt present in these goods : — 



In the examination of currants and raisins the most important 

 point to be considered was apparently the amount of unneces- 

 sary refuse or dirt contained in the goods. It seems impos- 

 sible to make an exact determination of the refuse, but the fol- 

 lowing method gives an approximate amount and may be taken 

 to show the best or most desirable brands in comparison with 

 those which are apparently carelessly prepared. 



One hundred and fifty grams of the fruit, as found, were 

 taken and washed once with as little water as practicable. It 

 was impossible to filter the residue on account of the syrupy 

 condition of the wash w^ater and so this was evaporated to a 

 syrup and then dried in the oven for 25 hours (the same time 

 as was used for drying to obtain total solids). The result 

 gives the approximate total refuse which, of course, includes 

 some sugar and some pieces of the fruit which ought not to be 

 classed as dirt. The results vary considerably and the highest 

 figures do not always represent the samples which contain the 

 most dirt. This total refuse was burned to a white ash and 

 the result gives approximately the mineral matter obtained by 

 washing 150 grams of the fruit. These results show more 

 nearly the difference in the goods, but dividing the mineral 

 matter by the total refuse, to obtain the ratio of mineral matter 

 to the total refuse, gives the best indication of those goods 

 which, apparently carelessly prepared, contain the most min- 

 eral matter. This mineral matter represents, in excess of that 

 contained in the best goods, the sand, small pebbles, sticks, 

 pieces of stems, etc., found in the poor goods. This determina- 

 tion seems to give a better indication of the dirty, carelessly pre- 

 pared goods than an ash determination on a sample of the 

 goods themselves as found in the package because the amount 

 of seeds would influence the ash content of a sample taken of 



