90 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



5 GEORGE v., A. 1915 



Department of Agriculture, at the various packing houses and fruit and vegetable 

 canneries throughout the Dominion. 



During the year April 1, 1913 — March 31, 1914, 510 samples have been critically 

 examined as to nature and purity, as follows: — 



Lards, tallow, oils and butters 55 



Preserved meats — sausages, mince meat, etc 76 



Colouring and dye stuffs 56 



Preservatives 67 



Pickling solutions ■ 33 



Spices and condiments . 19 



Evaporated apples and apple waste 201 



Miscellaneous 3 



Total 510 



The increase in late years in this branch of work will be apparent when it is 

 stated that for the preceding year the samples examined numbered 185, and for the 

 year ending March 31, 1912, 8G. The reports on these materials are submitted to 

 the Veterinary Director General. 



The Water Stipply of Farm Homesteads. — During the year, 272 samples of water 

 were entered for examination. Of these 84 were from the rain and snow investiga- 

 tion, which has already been referred to. The remainder, 168, were fro^-'^ wells and 

 other sources of water supply on Canadian farms. Of these we reported 62 as pure 

 and wholesome, 44 as highly suspicious, 25 as seriously polluted and 37 as non- 

 potable by reason of high salinity. 



We have from the first urged with all the emphasis at our command the desira- 

 bility of an ample supply of pure water for the health of the farmer and his family, 

 the thrift of his stock and the wholesomeness of his dairy produce. In too many 

 instances, we regret to say, farmers are still using water from barnyard and back- 

 door wells that are seriously contaminated with drainage matter. But we can also 

 record, and with much satisfaction, that there is an ever increasing number who are 

 abandoning these shallow and badly-placed, wells for a deep seated source — the bored 

 or driven well — so situated as to be beyond the possibility of local pullution. 



Stajf: Achnowledgments. — I would acknowledge with thanks the valuable assist- 

 ance rendered during the year by the staff. Mr. A. T. Charron, M.A.. has con-"" 

 tinued in the general oversight and conduct of the work as First Assistant Chemist, 

 and has been more especially helpful in connection with the correspondence and 

 lectures in French on agricultural subjects. Mr. C. H. Eobinson, B.A., has had 

 entire charge of the analytical work m connection with the samples sent in by the 

 Meat Inspection Division, and the analysis of Insecticides and Fungicides. To Mr. 

 A. T. Stuart, B.A., has been assigned the water analyses, the work in connection 

 with the rain and snow investigation, and the large number of nitrogen determina- 

 tions necessary in so many researches. J\[r. J. T. Janson, B.Sc, and Mr. J. M. Scott, 

 M.Sc, have been chiefly engaged in the analysis of soils, fertilizing materials and 

 feeding stufFs. 



I have the honour to be, sir. 



Tour obedient servant, 



FRANK T. SHUTT, 



Dominion Chemist. 



