The following mixture overcomes the defects in the use of Bial''s reagent for the detection of certain sugars using filter paper chromatography technic: orcinol, 0.5 g.; trichloroacetic acid 15 g.; n-butanol (water-saturated), 100 ml. Keep in a cold place and do not use more than 6-8 days after prepn. After the paper has been dried, it is sprayed with the mixture and heated at 105[degree] for 15-20 mins. Sedoheptulose and mannoheptulose give a bluish green color reaction, fructose and sucrose give yellow and no color is produced with glucose, galactose, arabinose, xylose, ribose, rhamnose and glucuronic acid.