TABLE II.-Chemical and microscopical examination of Sicilian sumac sampled in 1905-Continued. 409 410 411 412 413 414 415 416 INVESTIGATION OF 1907. During 1905 and 1906 there was so much agitation of the question of sumac adulteration in the leather trade journals, and buyers had to become so well informed on the question, that it was thought advisable again to collect and examine samples. This was done in the spring of 1907, exactly as before, the samples being secured from all incoming consignments for a time before they passed into the hands of the consignee. The results of the examination of these samples are given in Table III, page 22. DISCUSSION OF ANALYTICAL DATA. Seventy-five per cent of the 53 samples examined were pure sumac or contained but traces of other material such as may have been present accidentally. The pure samples contained from 25.6 to 35.7 per cent and averaged 30.6 per cent of tannin, or 1.3 per cent lower than the 1905 samples. Microscopical examination showed that 25 per cent of the samples examined were adulterated with lentiscus, while one sample was pure lentiscus and another was Turkish sumac. The adulterated samples contained from 22.4 to 30.4 per cent and averaged 26.3 per cent of tannin or 0.3 per cent lower than the 1905 samples. These facts indicate that while adulteration is not so generally practiced as in 1905, individual shipments are apparently adulterated to about the same extent. The lowest tannin content of all the samples was 22.4 per cent, the highest 35.7 per cent, and the average 29.4 per cent, the latter figure being practically identical with the average tannin content of the 1905 samples. Color tests were made on but few extracts, which indicated a somewhat higher average color in the pure 1907 samples than in the pure 1905 samples. Only 3 of the 13 samples which were found to be adulterated were labeled to that effect. The other samples were either labeled pure sumac or marked so as to give the impression that they were pure Sicilian sumac. These results indicate that from 1905 to 1907 there was a decrease of about 16 per cent in the importation of adulterated shipments of sumac, but that those shipments which were sophisticated had been adulterated with practically the same percentage of lentiscus as formerly. The practice of labeling adulterated shipments "pure sumac" or "warranted 100 per cent pure sumac" appears to be as general as formerly, so that it is still absolutely necessary for a buyer who would be sure that he is purchasing a pure, high-grade sumac to have it examined. 117 COMMENTS BY IMPORTERS. A copy of each analysis was sent to the consignee in all cases, but in some instances they were returned marked "Not found" and these firms could not be located. In a few cases the consignees made some comments, the most important of which are quoted below: Your laboratory No. 198 a represents an importation of sumac with 25 per cent lentiscus, especially so ordered and imported for a New York firm with their knowledge that it was so admixed and was known in the trade as No. 2 goods. Laboratory No. 156,b showing an abundance of lentiscus * [is] the same as lot No. 198 * [and] has been imported with the condition of second quality, i. e., to contain 25 per cent lentiscus. * * * LEBER & SON. * Leber & Son again stated on February 20, 1908, that the lot from which sample No. 1511c was taken was imported mixed with lentiscus on the order of the purchaser. |