156 maine agricultural experiment station. i909. 



An Unlawful jNIaple Sugar Made Exclusively From 

 Maple Sap. 

 The sugar of the maple, the beet, and the sugar cane are 

 chemically identical. The maple sugar of commerce owes its 

 value to certain flavoring constituents which are in a sense 

 impurities. If maple sugar is refined so that these flavoring 

 materials are removed the product will not conform to the 

 definition and standards fixed for Maine and would therefore 

 be classed as an adulterated product. In the spring of 1909 

 the inspector j)urchased maple sugar at Grant's confectionery 

 store in Lewiston, which on analysis was found to be deficient 

 in the matters characteristic of maple sugar. The results of 

 the examination were published as No. 8173 on page 66 of 

 Official Inspections 11, and the goods were reported as adul- 

 terated and a hearing appointed. At the hearing it developed 

 that Mr. Grant purchased from a handler of maple sirup, the 

 sugar that had crystalized out and remained in the bottom of 

 the cans. Mr. Grant's candy maker melte'd this sugar with the 

 addition of water and it was sold as maple sugar. Because the 

 sugar had lost its maple characteristics through crystalization 

 the sugar was the same as would be produced by mixing granu- 

 lated sugar with a little pure maple sugar. The sugar was 

 unlawful but the case was not prosecuted as all concerned in 

 the matter had evidently acted in good faith. 



Jams, Jellies and Preserves. 

 In the summer of 1909 the deputy purchased at different 

 places in Maine fruit jams, jellies and preserves which were 

 put up by companies outside of the State. Most of the goods 

 proved to be correctly labeled. Where they were not, hearings 

 were appointed and in every instance the company was able to 

 make satisfactory explanations ; usually that the goods were old 

 goods and that they had corrected the troubles which we found 

 in the goods on sale in Maine. The cases were settled by affi- 

 davits. The local dealers were notified relative to the goods 

 and either they were withdrawn from sale or the labels changed 

 so as to accord with fact. 



