But three of the samples of whole roasted coffees were adulterated. Knowing the large amount of imitation coffee that is on the markets this result was unexpected. The adulterated samples were Nos. 6872, 8950, and 8963; each of these contained imitation coffee. The composition of the imitation coffee is given on page 916 under these numbers. No. 6872 contained a small percentage of imitation coffee; No. 8950 contained 50 per cent, and No. 8963 contained 1 1/2 per cent.

The imitation coffee in the case of No. 6872 was introduced by the roaster. No. 8950 is a package coffee, sold largely in Kansas. Its origin is not known. It is very probable that roasted coffees are. adulterated to a very much greater extent for sale in packages in districts not readily accessible to a roaster. Large quantities of package coffees are sold in Kansas. Samples Nos.8840 and 8849 contained an excessive proportion of coffee screenings. While coffee screenings consist largely of fragments of pure coffee beans, they should, notwithstanding this, be considered adulterants. One, sample No. 8772, was roasted with a large amount of a glazing material. According to Konig (see page 913) this is objectionable, since it would increase the weight of the roasted coffee without corresponding advantage to the consumer.

It is not unusual for roasters to employ a small amount of glazing material, as they claim, to protect the coffee.

The accompanying table gives the results of a few examinations of coffees by Stutzer and Reitnair's method (see page 913) for the determination of the cold-water extract:

Stutzer and Reitnair give from .44 per cent to .72 per cent as the range of the organic extract as determined by their method.

Seven of the samples included in the above table gave a higher extract than the upper limit given by these chemists, hence it is fair to presume that these coffees were roasted with a glazing material. No. 6872 contains imitation coffee, which may account for the high organic extract.

It is probable that the retail dealer is not usually directly to blame in foisting imitation coffee upon the market, though he must in many cases know that he can not obtain a good merchantable coffee for the price he is paying. In most cases the imitation coffee is probable introduced by the roaster. The price paid for roasting coffees is usually very small and the competition is very sharp. A dishonest roaster can so easily increase his profits by the addition of imitation coffee, and with so little fear of detection, that he is often tempted and probably as often yields to temptation.

Green Coffees

A large number of green coffees, bought on the open market, were examined, all of which were genuine. It was impossible to detect cases where coffee of one grade was sold for that of another. There were undoubtedly many such samples.