lO AGRICULTURE OF MAINE. 



tion until after the analysis had been made, consequently this 

 method has been adopted, and with the most beneficial results. 



As long as the amount of fertilizer continues to be as large 

 as it is, and the farmers place as much dependence upon it to 

 assure a crop as they do at the present time, it is the duty of 

 the state to see that nothing but the very best goods are sold. 

 This becomes increasingly difficult inasmuch as there are new 

 ingredients being used for fertilizing purposes. I would again 

 call attention to the fact that the price of fertilizer in the State 

 of Maine is considerably more than it is outside of New Eng- 

 land. In fact, it reaches to such a high figure that it is a question 

 whether there is not some agreement between them that losses 

 made outside of New England shall be recouped here. I would 

 recommend this year, as I did in 191 5, that one of the condi- 

 tions of registration be, that fertilizer shall be sold in Maine 

 as cheaply as in any place, and, in case of violation of this act, 

 that the registration be liable to cancellation. 



The work done by this Department in connection with the 

 Federal pure food inspectors along the coast, in the sardine 

 factories during 191 5 and 1916, have had very marked results 

 in the improving of conditions surrounding the packing of 

 this important product of our seashore. During the blueberry 

 packing season of 19 16, also, an inspector was assigned to the 

 duty of looking after the packing of blueberries, and the con- 

 dition surrounding the blueberry packing factories have also 

 improved materially. This has been done without making the 

 work of this department especially obnoxious or onerous to 

 even those whom it most seriously affects. 



CYANAMID. 



It has become decently well established that cyanamid can- 

 not be used promiscuously as a source of nitrogen in fertilizer, 

 and then, not unless the buyer is advised that if this ingredient 

 comes in contact with the seed, that it is liable to destroy it, 

 with the consequent loss of missing hills. On the other hand, 

 it seems to me that this stuff should be sold for exactly what it 

 is, with the full understanding that it cannot be applied in any 

 way so that it comes in contact with the seed, but that it can be 

 broadcast and worked into the soil without injury to the crop 



