REPORT OF THE CHEMIST 139 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



It very frequently happens that the analytical work in connection with the inves- 

 tigations carried on by the Division entirely precludes the possibility of undertaking, 

 for the time, further work ; it should, therefore, be distinctly understood that the recep- 

 tion and acknowledgment by us of samples does not imply their immediate examina- 

 tion. The ever-increasing correspondence and number of samples forwarded, make it 

 more and more difficult to attend promptly to this branch of our duties, and we are 

 consequently obliged to ask our correspondents to exercise patience. 



While every effort is made to furnish information respecting the samples of a 

 purely agricultural nature, we wish to advise our readers that it does not come within 

 our province to analyse and report upon samples of commercial fertilizers. Corres- 

 pondents desiring such analyses should communicate with the Inland Revenue 

 Department, Ottawa. Nor can we undertake the assays or analyses of minerals and 

 mineral waters. Questions relating to minerals may be addressed to the Department 

 of Mines, Ottawa. And, lastly, we cannot make any analysis the results of which we 

 do not consider of general value to the agricultural public. Examination in connec- 

 tion with suspected poisoning cases of animals is not undertaken. 



Meat Inspection Division, Health of Animals Branch, Department of Agriculture. 

 — During the past year new and further work has been asked of us in the examination 

 of samples collected by the government meat inspectors at the various packing houses 

 in Canada. These materials include preservatives, dyes, spices and condiments, pick- 

 ling solutions and various drugs and chemicals used in the packing house business. 

 Our examination was made with the view of determining their nature, purity and the 

 character of adulteration, if present. To date, we have received in the neighbourhood 

 of 250 samples, the greater number of which have been analysed and reported upon. 

 The chemical and microscopical work involved in this investigation has, naturally, 

 made a large draft upon the time of the staff. 



Acknowledgments. — To Mr. A. T. Charron, M.A., First Assistant Chemist, Mr. 

 H. W. Charlton, B.A.Sc, and Mr. A. Gordon Spencer, M.Sc, Assistant Chemists, I 

 desire to again tender my thanks for good and efficient work during the past year. In 

 my last report I referred to the various ways in which these gentlemen assisted in 

 and pushed forward the work of the Division, and it may therefore be only necessary 

 on this occasion to state that whatever degree of usefulness this Division inay have 

 attained to in its relations to the agriculture of the Dominion, is very largely due to 

 their skill, industry and hearty co-operation. 



The clerical duties have been performed by Miss Olive Robertson, to whom I 

 would extend my thanks for much careful and faithful work. 



I have the honour to be, sir. 



Your obedient servant, 



FRANK T. SHUTT, 

 Chemist, Dominion Experimental Farms. 



