BUEEAU OF CHEMISTRY. 489 



water analysis will be studied and special attention devoted to the 

 determination of the radio-activity of mineral waters, including an 

 investigation of this important subject at the source of certain springs. 

 Sulphur waters will be studied and improved methods devised for 

 the determination of the several sulphur compounds present. 



A study of the composition of cattle and poultry foods and remedies 

 which enter interstate commerce, of range forage crops (the latter in 

 cooperation with the Bureau of Plant Industry), and investigations 

 regarding the feeding value, connnercial importance, and adaptability 

 of grains and other feeding stull's will be made. Improved methods 

 of determining the various constituents in cattle foods will be studied 

 with special reference to the fat determination, which, as now made, 

 extracts materials other than fat from certain feeding stuffs. 



In addition to the examination of such insecticides and fungicides 

 as may be called for by other bureaus of the Department and the 

 continuation of the study of methods of analysis, the following inves- 

 tigations will be prosecuted: (1) The stud\' of the cause of injury to 

 foliage of fruit trees b}' lead arsenate and methods for preventing 

 this injury. (2) The supposed injury to fruit trees from the 

 accumulation of toxic salts in the soils, due to the use of insecticides, 

 in cooperation with the Bureau of Entomology. (3) Orchard and 

 laboratory tests of poisonous comjoounds not at present used as in- 

 secticides with the view to finding some substance which may be so 

 used on peach and other tender foliage. (4) The arsenic content of 

 fruits to which arsonicals have been applied in spraying operations. 



The effect of toxic gases on different species of plants and the resist- 

 ance of plants to copper and arsenic in the soil will be studied and 

 field Avork done to determine the effects of smelter wastes in general 

 on vegetable and animal life. 



Studies of the amount of arsenic or other poisonous substances in 

 household articles in general use and other sanitary studies. 



SUGAR LABORATORY. 



The completion of the extensive investigation under way in regard 

 to the maple-sugar industry and the examination of commercial 

 glucose will be made the most important Avork of the year 1911, to- 

 gether Avith the completion of the Avork on imported honey. The 

 institution of inA-estigations of equal thoroughness relating to cane 

 sirup, sorghum sirup, etc., will folloAV the completion of the Avork in 

 hand. The environment studies on the sugar content of watermelons 

 and muskmelons Avill be steadily advanced. 



D.ATRY LAnORATORY. 



Tn addition to the regular routine Avork the folloAving special studies 

 Avill be made: (1) A completion of the study of the process of con- 

 densing milk to determine the practical limit of condensation consist- 

 ent with good mechanicnl condition. (2) Continuation of the work 

 on the perfecting of analytical methods and checking of analyses re- 

 ceived from the branch laboratories. (3) Study of all the brands of 

 malted milk in the United States. 



