31 



had been loaded for shipment was opened and a box of fruit taken at 

 random, and the sample prepared from this box. The fruit was dried 

 on galvanized iron wire. The quantity of zinc which we found in this 

 sample was about double that usually found, and apparently by acci- 

 dent there was secured a large quantity of slices which had been in 

 contact with the galvanized iron. 



Sample 14410 was taken at the same place as the preceding from a 

 large pile of fruit ready for i:)acking. The analysis shows that it con- 

 tains the usual quantity of zinc oxid. This fruit was dried on galvan- 

 ized iron wire. 



In securing the next sami:)le, Xo. 11111, from the same factory as 

 that above, an attemi)t was made to get as many as possible of the 

 slices which had only been in partial contact with the wire. For this 

 purpose a tray taken directly from the kiln was turned upside down 

 and the slices which fell off without shaking were secured for analysis. 

 As was to have been expected, the results of the analysis indicate a 

 considerable diminution of the content of zinc, which was found to be 

 only 6.6 milligrams of zinc oxid for 100 grams. 



The next sample, Xo. 14412, consists of the slices which remained 

 attached to the zinc when the tray was turned upside down, as indi- 

 cated above. The quantity' of zinc in this sample, viz, 21.4 milligrams 

 of zinc oxid, is more than three times as great as that found in the 

 preceding sample. 



Sample 14414 consists of slices of evaporated apples which remained 

 attached to the galvanized iron wires when a tray taken from the kiln 

 was turned uj^side down. The tray on which the apples were dried 

 had been in use more than five years. The sample contained 24.2 

 milligrams of zinc oxid i)er 100 grams. In comparing this with the 

 preceding sample, which was dried on trays in use the first year, it is 

 seen that the continued use of the tray does not tend to diminish the 

 danger of contamination with zinc. 



Sample 14415 was secured from another factory in Walworth, N. Y. 

 The samx^le was dried on galvanized iron wire trays which had been in 

 use for two years. The proprietor of the factory is in the habit of greas- 

 ing his trays with tallow about every three days to i^revent the slices 

 from sticking thereto. The utility of this method is indicated in the 

 low content of zinc found, viz, o.C) milligrams for 100 grams of fruit. 



Sample 14416, from tlie manufacturer mentioned above, represents 

 the whole apple, including the cores and skins. The trays on which 

 these apples were dried were also well greased, and only a trace of zinc 

 was found in the sample. 



In sample 14417 is seen an illustration of the character of the fruit 

 which may be bought in the general market. The history of this sam- 

 ple could not be traced, but from the fact that it contained only a trace 

 of zin(* it is fair to presume that it was either dried on wooden trays or 

 on galvanized iron trays which were kept well greased. 



