202 ANNUAL REPOETS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICTJLTtJtlE. 



A paper upon ^^Aspergillus fumigatus, A. niclulans, A. terreus, 

 n. sp. and their Allies," has been completed and papers upon the 

 "Bacteriological Study of Hamburger Steak" and upon the Asjier- 

 gillus niger group have been reported, A large collection of sapro- 

 phytic organisms is maintained in growing condition and cultures 

 from this collection are supplied to laboratories and collaborators 

 seeking such assistance. 



Beverages. — Bulletin 493, " Study of American Beers and Ales," 

 has been issued. A study of the presence of arsenic in hops, under- 

 taken in cooperation with the Bureau of Plant Industry, showed that 

 this contamination is due to the presence of arsenic in the sulphur 

 used in curing the hops. United States Patent Xo. 1216722 has been 

 granted for a carbonating machine and some of the results of the ex- 

 periments on methods of carbonation of beverages have been pub- 

 lished. 



Drugs and pharmacology. — Researches on organic periodides of 

 antipyrin, iodantipyrin, and pyramidon have been printed. Inves- 

 tigations upon the pharmacological action of the fat-soluble dyes, 

 of oil of chenopodium, of the iodides, of citrates, and of malates 

 were published. Further work upon the action of dj'estuffs, of 

 heavy metals, and of organic acids is in progress. 



Insecticides and fungicides. — In cooperation with the Federal 

 Horticultural Board experiments were undertaken to discover 

 methods of fumigating foodstuffs, such as seeds, without rendering 

 them unfit for human consumption. The results of the investiga- 

 tion of the poisoning of bees by sprays will be published by the 

 Bureau of Entomology. A paper has been issued on a new tree- 

 banding material. The work on copper and sulphur fungicides has 

 been continued with special reference to increasing their sticking 

 qualities and reducing the amount of copper necessary. One paper 

 has been published upon load chlor arsenate and three upon the 

 arsenates of lead. Bulletin 408, "Experiments During 1915 in the 

 Destruction of Fly Larvae in Horse Manure," was published jointly 

 with the Bureau of Entomology. 



Analytical methods. — There have been published methods for the 

 estimation of lactic and butyric acids in biological products, of mois- 

 ture in bread, of hydrocyanic acid in beans, of total solids in milk, 

 of the folding endurance of paper and of the strength of paper when 

 wet ; also methods for the sepai'ation of lithium from the other alkali 

 metals; for the separation and identification of food coloring sub- 

 stances and of fat-soluble dyes; for the detection of lime used as a 

 neutralizer in dairy products, and of molds in drugs, foods, and 

 spices; for the identification of emodin-bearing drugs; for the ex- 

 amination of method salicylate, and for the analj^sis of proprietary 

 medicines. The description of an apparatus for the purification 

 of mercury has been printed. 



Studies were also made upon the estimation of citral, of mono- 

 bromated camphor in migrain tablets, of fat in condensed milk and 

 milk powders, of the acidity of cereal products, of added Avater in 

 milk, of arsenic in sulphur and hops, upon the determination of 

 fluorine in baking powders; also upon the electrolytic determination 

 of lead, upon the identification of volatile oils, upon the separation 



