274 agriculture of maine. 



Chemistry. 



The work of this department, as for the past four years, has 

 been confined almost entirely to inspections and is briefly con- 

 sidered under the following heads : Fertilizer Inspection, Feed- 

 ing Stufifs Inspection, Food and Drug Inspection, Fungicide and 

 Insecticide Inspection, Paint and Oil Inspection. 



fertilizer inspection. 



About 450 samples of fertilizers and chemicals were analyzed 

 in connection with the fertilizer inspection work. Considerably 

 more work was done this year than usual in determining the 

 quality of the nitrogen in mixed goods by the method adopted 

 by the New England State Stations and New York and New 

 Jersey Stations. This additional work on nitrogen increases 

 the time required to analyze a fertilizer about one-third, but in 

 view of the importance and desirability of having this informa- 

 tion the directors of the several stations felt warranted in in- 

 currng this additional expense. 



feeding stuffs inspection. 



In connection with the feeding stuffs inspection work about 

 1300 samples of feeds have been examined the past year. The 

 larger part of them were only tested for protein, but owing to 

 a change in the law requiring a guaranty of fiber as well as 

 protein and fat, one complete analysis of each brand of feed 

 sold in the State was made. A large number of the samples 

 examined for nitrogen were sent in by dealers who wished to 

 know if the goods were up to standard before ofifering them 

 for sale. The official samples, or those taken by the regular 

 Station inspector, were the ones on which complete analyses 

 were made. Complete analyses also were made on 55 samples 

 of oats for the Department of Biology in connection with oat 

 breeding experiments. 



FOOD AND DRUG INSPECTION. 



In connection with this inspection about 800 samples of foods 

 and drugs have been examined. The work in this line covers a 



