Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-06-29
VII! EXAMINE FOODS
Secretary Wilson Establishes a
Laboratory to Examine
Food Stuffs
DEALERS ARE UNscRuPULoUs
Already it Has. Been Demonstrated
That They Are PaIning OFF Artificial
Coffees and Other Impure Foods on
the Unsuspecting Public-other
News.

| Washington. June 2a.-IFor the pur-
pose of insurjng pure food for the peo-
Pile of this country Secretary Wilson
has established microscopic labora-
division of the department of agricul-
ture Already it has been demonstrate
ed that INSCRIPTIONS dealers are palm
II ing off artificial coffee and other inn
pure food on the public. The supposed
coffee berries We're regularly shaped and
colored, but were composed of chicory.
starch, and other ingredients, and when
ground presented about the usual APP
pearance of coffee.
Cocoa has come in for some curious
results under the microscope, and in
fact there is now no branch of the de-
partment OF agriculture where it does
not play an important part. a large
photo microscopic camera occupies one
side of q large room. and is so arranged
that foods under inspection may be
photographed and the picture thrown
upon screen in the natural colors-
thing of nestimabe value to students
of grain and vegetable disease.
A microtone for cutting up articles
for investigation, such as fruit, vege-
tables and grain. to the two hundred
and twenty five thousandth part OF an
inch, is one of the new equipments.
Arrangements are made for photo
graphing these minute waters While
under the microscope and from the en-
larged sections are made trans paren-
cies for throwing upon the screen.
The great Importance of this depart
ment was not apparent at first. but
thru It's agency the kind and variety of
sugar contained in certain variety of
beets may be determined.
While chemical tests Will show the
amount of starch present in such things
as ground cocoa mustard. pepper. and
other spices and condiments, the mi
croscopist determines the kind and
amount of starch
A test was made recently of spruce
and linen pulp for the manufacture of
paper in this country, when it was
found the manufacturers We're being
| imposed upon by the importers, and
thu the determination of the micro
scopist thousands of dollars We're saved
In importing sumac into this country
fraud was constantly practiced on deal
ers and manufacturers. This was stop
ped thru this department. This appar
attus is also used for getting a the
diseases of wheat and other grain, and
also the adaptability OF certain variet-
| les of wheat to different climates, be-
sides ascertaining the amount of starch
and other nutritive qualities developed
under certain soil and climatic condi-
| tons
| Dr. John Clifford. formerly of the New
York State College of Forestry, has
| been selected by the agricultural de-
| partment to go to Porto Rico for tht
purpose of establishing a government
! forest reserve. He will start July /
This step has become absolutely neces
sary in order to preserve the fast dim
inishing woodlands of the island. The
| forest areas are small and confined al
most entirely to the higher parts of the
mountains. The largest tract is on e
| Yunque, in Sierra Luquilla, where are
found some small tracts of primeval
forests consisting of large trees of a
varieties of species. Several are of
great Ndltt, Sutll DIS spanish CEDAR, eD-
ony,s and sandalwood and many other
woods as yet unknown to American
manufactu rers. But all are susceptible
of the most superb finish, and are
adapted to cabinet work.
Timber is now so scarce on the ISL
and that most of that used is imported
There was time in the history of Por-
to Rico when 4 canoe hewn from the
! trunk of tree would carry forty or
fifty persons, but trees of such dimen-
sons no longer exist. Three centuries
and half of wood and charcoal fires
have had a disasterous effect, and in
many parts of the island all the larger
trees have disappeared. and seasons of
drought are experienced in conse-
quence.
| Nowhere else are so many useful and
beautiful woods to be found, and it will
| be the work of the government hence
| forth to preserve such small forests as
now exist, and constantly to replenish
them. Just where the first preserve
will be located will not be known until
Dr. Clifford reports the result of his in
spection.