MAINE AGRICULTURAL KXPERIM^NT STATION. I913. 275 



very great variety of materials and varies to some extent with 

 the season. During the summer considerable time is given to 

 examinations of ice creams on the market. During the early 

 fall when preservatives are most likely to be used, oysters and 

 clams were collected in the open markets and tested. It is 

 pleasing to note that not a single instance of a preservative 

 being used was found and only a few instances in the case of 

 oysters was an undue amount of water found to be present — a 

 very great improvement over the condition in which these 

 goods were found a few years ago. A notable improvement has 

 also been noticed in the vinegars and molasses. Canned goods 

 and drugs are examined at any and all times of the year when- 

 ever occasion calls for such examination. 



FUNGICIDES AND INSECTICIDES. 



Owing to the passage of a fungicide and insecticide law the 

 Maine Agricultural Experiment Station collected and turned 

 into the laboratory for analysis 75 different insecticides and 

 fungicides. These have nearly all been examined and the results 

 will soon be reported in a bulletin. 



PAINTS AND OILS. 



With a view of learning something about the character of 

 the paint and oil materials on the market, about 60 different 

 kinds of materials were bought and examined. These comprise 

 some dry pigments, pigments ground in oil, and several kinds 

 of mixed paints. Also several oils and driers were tested. The 

 results of this work will soon be published and will be of con- 

 siderable interest to people who use paint. 



Biology. 



The Department of Biolog}'' is chiefly engaged in the study 

 of plant and animal breeding. The final goal of this work is to 

 find out how the common farm crops and live stock may be 

 improved in quality and productivity by breeding. On the 

 animal side the experimental work is largely with poultry, while 

 on the plant side corn, oats and beans have been the crops chiefly 

 studied. 



