84 MAINE AGRICUIvTURAIv EXPERIMENT STATION. I912. 



sodium bicarbonate, approximately 99.5 per cent pure. As far 

 as our observation goes, the package goods as well as the bulk 

 goods are of good quality. 



RICE. 



Because of the inspection practically all of the grocery stores 

 situated in towns along the lines of the railroad have been 

 visited in the last few months. Attention has been called, 

 among other things, to the proper labeling of rice. According 

 to the data which have been collected by the inspectors, about 

 one-third of the rice on sale in the State is not coated, and 

 about two-thirds of it is coated with glucose and talc. Ba^^'' 

 in which this rice is shipped are for the most part properly 

 labeled, although some times the stenciling is so poorly done 

 that is can only be deciphered with difficulty. No prosecutions 

 have been made for selling adulterated rice which was not 

 properly labeled, but now that the trade has been thoroughly 

 notified on this subject there is no excuse for any dealer fur- 

 nishing his customer with adulterated rice unless it is correctly 

 labeled to show the nature of the adulteration. 



BRANDY DROPS, CORDIALS. 



Occasionally during the past two years samples of confec- 

 tionery supposed to contain intoxicants have been sent to the. 

 Station for examination. In only one instance had the sample 

 been taken in such a way that identity could be established. 

 They have been sent under the names of brandy drops, cordials, 

 and chocolate cordials. In none of these has more than a trace 

 of alcohol been found. They have contained a syrup with no 

 appreciable alcoholic flavor. 



There was found with the Holmes Confectionery Co., Milk 

 St., Portland, Defiance Chocolate Cordials made by the Lovell 

 & Covell Co., Boston, U. S. Serial No. 7276, of which a full 

 five pound package was purchased. The contents were found 

 to weigh 4.9 lbs. The liquid with which the chocolates were 

 filled composed approximately 28 per cent of the total weight. 

 This, however, contained by weight less than four-tenths per 

 cent alcohol, which was no doubt from the flavoring materials. 



While no standards have been fixed for "cordial" the dic- 

 tionery meaning implies the presence of spirits. The goods 



