14 AGRICULTURE OF MAINE. 



however, is only a matter of theory and it will take years yet 

 to determine whether this will be true or not. 



BROWN-TAIL MOTHS. 



The state has been remarkably free from brown-tails during 

 191 5. This is owing less to the parasite than to local conditions. 

 There were only two areas, and those not of any great size, 

 that were badly infested, that were discovered during the spring 

 of 1915. One was in a section near Sebago Lake and the other 

 in the southern portion of Sagadahoc and Lincoln Counties. 



WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. 



The work of the Bureau of Weights and Measures has been 

 carried on by Edgar A. Russ of Dexter. Mr. Russ has made 

 a most efficient and very acceptable deputy sealer, capable, 

 fearless and just. Mr. Russ has succeeded in seeing the law 

 enforced in practically every town in the State of Maine. 



HORTICULTURE. 



The Bureau of Horticulture has had for its head, A. K. Gard- 

 ner, who. for a number of years, has been State Horticulturist 

 and has been very successful in advancing orchard interests, 

 not only in a horticultural way, but has interested himself in the 

 market side of the question. 



BUREAU OF INSPECTION. 



The Bureau of Inspection, under the management of A. M. 

 G. Soule, has taken several important steps that need to be 

 mentioned. One was the digging out of the fertilizer situation 

 which, heretofore, had been very much obscured and which had 

 caused farmers all over the State of Maine much uneasiness. 

 The situation has very much improved during the year and it is 

 a perfectly safe guess that the fertilizer manufacturers in the 

 future will take pains to see that their goods comply with the 

 law in every detail. We judge that it was not so much a mat- 

 ter of dishonesty as a matter of carelessness on their part, but 

 there is no doubt but that they know now that the importance 

 of the fertilizer trade to the people of the State of Maine is 

 recognized. 



