No. 7. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 201 



such oil, in an effort to arrest adulterations of this nature. The 

 principal adulterant used in such inferior grades of oil was found 

 to be mineral oil ranging in amounts from 5 per cent, to 20 per cent. 

 As soon as possible a bulletin will be prepared, giving results of 

 anal^^sis of Linseed Oil, together with information pertaining to the 

 same, which will be forwarded to those interested in this line of 

 work. 



The office work of the Bureau has been very considerable during 

 the year, and it was found necessary to employ the services of an 

 extra stenographer for a period of ten weeks, to assist in keeping 

 the large amount of work on hand up to date. Our correspondence 

 has continued to be large and the answering of a large number of 

 inquiries, the preparation of bulletins and reports, the keeping of 

 records of analyses, court cases, accounts, registrations and the 

 addressing of bulletins, etc., required much of the work to be done 

 in haste, and consequently, not done quite as well as it should have 

 been. 



We can use the services of an extra stenographer to advantage, 

 and it is hoped that in the near future, one may be employed. Owing 

 to the fact that our appropriations were reduced during the last 

 Session of the Legislature, we were prevented from employing extra 

 help, which was at times needed, in order that our work might be 

 more effective. It is earnestly hoped that larger appropriations may 

 be made by the Legislature at their next Session, in order to make 

 it possible for us to properly and more effectively carry out the pro- 

 visions of the laws of Pennsylvania, under which we are working. 



The personnel of the Bureau has not changed during the year. 

 A few improvements have been made by the purchase of new equip- 

 ment which have been of value. A. new nitrogen apparatus has 

 been installed, embodjdng the principal improvements now in use 

 in the Bureau of Chemistry at Washington and in other laboratories, 

 which has ijroved of great advantage over the one formerly in use 

 in our laboratory. A new and valuable Eefractometer has been 

 purchased for use in the analysis of Linseed Oil which is much 

 more accurate and gives better results than the one formerly in 

 use. This instrument has also been of great assistance to us in this 

 line of work. 



Our library has been increased by the addition of valuable books 

 of reference, and filing cabinets and easels have been obtained 

 which will materially assist us in our work and help us to be more 

 useful to the citizens of Pennsylvania. 



Many thanks are hereby extended to the Secretary of Agriculture 

 for the kind advice and assistance given, and to our General Agent, 

 Special Agents and all employes of the Bureau, whose work has 

 been faithfully performed. 



