The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-05-22
Ruslx, Candy, aud Becswax.

Rusk, Candy, aud Becswax.
Mr.. JOHN LIND Of New Un, Minnesota,
is the Representative in Congress from the
Second district OF that State Amid the
prevailing uncertainty as to who shall be
the Republican candidate for President.
Mr.. LIND himself entertains no doubt.
"RusK." he says. "is the strongest man In
the Republican party to-day. No other can
didnte could poll nearly SO many votes in
the West, and no other candidate would
have any advantage over him In the East
The Secretary of Agriculture has many
virtues. which, IL more widely known.
would undoubtedly add to his popularity
and political strength.
Abundant proof Of his personal interest
in matters thut nearly concern the public
welfare may he found in innumerat!e Gov
eminent documents whose pages rarely see
tho light until they are utilized for trunk
Innings and similar purposes.
We have before us ut this moment part
sixth OF Bulletin IS OF the United States De-
partnent OF Agriculture. Division OF Chem
istry. 1t is entitled Foods and Food
Adulterants." and gives an account OF in
vestiRations made under the direction OF
Mr.. II. ". WILEY. Chief Chemist. with the
collaboration OF others" into the constitu-
ents OF commercial sugar. mo!asses and
syrup, CONNECTIONS honey. and beeswax.
This pamphlet is stated to be published by
the authority Of the Secretary OF Agrlcul-
turc and. OF course. the Hon. JEREMIAH
RUsK. who holds that Office Is to be credited.
indirectly at least. with whatever is valu-
10; To-, p, o,,al lat
vices to the people better known. we deem
it only just to call attention to few OF the
discoveries. observations. and suggestions
which are set forth in this publication.
Most OF our readers may not have sus-
pected that tho public mind has been
agitated in any great degree In regard to
the proper distinction to be made between
molasses and syrup; and it is possible
they did not know that the subject was
one Of so much Importance as to require
deilnition OF these terms to be promulgated
by n member ofthe Cabinet Of the President
OF the United States. In these views. how
ever, they must have been wrong. US this
quotation from Bulletin No. 10 shows:
Perhaps the best distinction to be made between
the term mo!asses and the term syrup IL this:
"Moasses Is the natural product Of the manufacture
OF sugar cane. sorghum. maple sap. any product
from which part OF the sugar has been removed.
syrup The product Of the rehn:ng OF these articles
the mixing of various other articles with them"
We cannot agree with this definition OF
molasses so far as it includes maple sap. for
certainly that substance Is not ordinarily
denominated molasses. In the part Of the
report which deals with this subject 1t is
stated that large quantities OF maple syrup.
SO called. are fabrications made UP of other
sweets. the maple flavor being impaired in
many cases by an extract OF hickory bark.
and the resulting substance being some
times called mapleine.
In respect to CONNECTIONS. Mr.. RUsK de-
clarcs that the question Of the adulteration
Of candies and CONNECTIONS is hardly debat
able. but his chemists did not find that
injurious coiOring matters were introduced
into candies to any such extent as had pre-
viously been supposed. "Starches and
gums" says the bulletin. although in
soluble in cold water. are not OF themselves
hurtful to the health. and their presence in
certain kinds OF CONNECTIONS may be re-
garded as necessary" Two hundred and
fifty samples Of candy were examined. most
ly colored. purchased in different parts
connection between candy and agriculture
Is not obvious. nor is 1t easy to perceive I'M
der what provision Of the Constitution OF
the United States the national Government
occupies itself with candy analysis; but II
such work is to be done at all under the di-
rection OF great pubic functiOnary ut
Washington it is satisfactory to know that
the result indicates that the children OF the
country are not poisoned by confectionery
in any considerable numbers.
In the subdivision of Bulletin No. IL re-
lating to honey it il interesting to learn
that "the highest-priced were two samples
OF fraudulent Swiss honey, while the cheap
est wGs the pint jar OF pure honey from
Cambridge" Two samples were examined
OF the breakfast honey so much enjoyed by
travellers III Switzerland. These are de-
clared to be almost pure glucose. very
possibly made In America The writer
facetiously adds: 1.-THE label In this case
commanded the highest price," and in
another place he says:
ct appears to 10 the habit OF the entsrprsins dealer
to himself with an assortment of asonant labels
and pot OF paste and then make his descent on help
less pile OF genuine and spurious packages OF money
applying the labels Unfortunately
Forty-ave pages of the report are devoted
to the important subject OF beeswax. We
will content ourselves with one quotation
from this portion OF the pamphlet:
Whom pure beeswsx Is chewed 1t breaks up IN the
mouth: tho adultersted acts Ike chewing gum
This neat method Of testing beeswax
ought forever to establish the claim OF the
Hon. JEREMIAH RUsK, Secretary OF Agri-
culture. to be- deemed true friend OF the
people. The sentence we have quoted could
hardly be written or promulgated by man
not familiar with the use Of chewing gum.
bill for the better regulation OF immi-
grafton will be laid before Congress this week
from the Joint committee. to which the sub
iect was referred By both Houses. after the
failure to secure legislation upon any OF the
immigration bills introduced during the pres
snt session. Tho proposition to restrict i'm
migration by imposing heavy capitstion tax
upon storage passengers has been rejected
10 Nh.., ..t-A I..u aVsA