4 INTEODUCTION. 



place of production, or name of manufacturer. It is a common prac- 

 tice, for instance, to label all pears as Bartletts. This works injustice 

 to both producers and consumers. Many canners place their own labels 

 only on their best brands and pack inferior goods under the names of 

 fictitious firms. This practice is less objectionable when the goods can 

 be readily traced to the manufacturer, but it often happens that letters 

 addressed to such fictitious firms are returned to the sender. The 

 practice becomes most reprehensible when such inferior articles are 

 marked "first quality." 



Another form of mislabeling often resorted to is the branding of 

 fruits of one localit}^ with the name of a State or district which has 

 attained an enviable reputation for the production of certain fruit. In 

 this connection may be noted an injunction recently obtained in the 

 Baltimore courts restraining certain packers from labeling their wares 

 as California products. 



For the purpose of comparison numerous analyses of fruits have 

 been compiled, and fresh fruits, and jellies and jams prepared in the 

 laboratory, have been examined. 



The samples of fruit products examined were taken at random, no 

 attempt being made to secure either high or low grade goods. On 

 the contrary, attempts were made to secure a set of samples that would 

 be thoroughly representative of the fruit products on the market. 

 This matter is attended with great difficulty. The various manufac- 

 turers do not send their high-grade goods to the same markets. It 

 often happens that a given firm which makes several brands of goods 

 only finds sale for its lowest grade in some cities, where some manu- 

 facturers place only their best goods. The same conditions apply to 

 different stores in the same cit3^ It is quite possible that we have 

 secured samples of high-grade goods of some manufacturers and over- 

 looked stores which handled their cheap products, or vice versa. 



As stated above, however, the samples were collected in such a 

 manner as to preclude these conditions as far as possible. The cities 

 of Washington, New York, Philadelphia, and New Orleans were visited 

 by representatives of the Bureau and a list of stores selected where it 

 was thought all grades of goods could be found. Samples were secured 

 of all jellies, jams, and similar preparations on sale at these stores. 

 A few additional samples were received from other souices. 



All of the work in connection with this bulletin was accomplished 

 by those whose names appear on the title-page, except the nitrogen 

 determinations, which were made b}^ Mr. T. C. Trescot. 



As indicated above, the primary purpose of the work was to determine 

 the character of the fruit products on the market. At the same time, 

 the analyses given are of scientific value in extending our knowledge 

 of the composition of fruits. 



W. D. BiGELOW, 



Chief of Food Laboratory 



