REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 43 



someness of various kinds, and passing upon the purity of condi- 

 ments, water supplies, etc. The results show no attempts to use pro- 

 hibited preservatives and coloring matters. The condemnations re- 

 sulting from laboratory inspection have been made principally be- 

 cause of rancidity of oils and fats and the use of cereals in prepared 

 meats without proper declaration on the label. 



By comparing the census figures and the department's statistics 

 it is calculated that in 1909 (the year covered by the last census) 

 58.12 per cent of all the meat slaughtered in the country was Feder- 

 ally inspected. As the Government inspection has been slightly ex- 

 tended in the subsequent three years, it is estimated that the propor- 

 tion slaughtered under Federal inspection at the present time is about 

 GO per cent. Most of the uninspected remainder consists of slaughter 

 by local butchers and by farmers. 



HORSE BREEDING. 



The horse-breeding investigations in Colorado, Vermont, and 

 Iowa have continued with good progress. In the Colorado experi- 

 ments in breeding carriage horses there were in the stud at the close 

 of the fiscal year 77 animals, including 22 stallions and 55 mares. 

 Of 14 foals dropped during the year 11 are alive and thrifty. The 

 average excellence of the foals is above that of previous years. 



At the Government Morgan horse farm at Middlebury, Vt., there 

 were at the close of the fiscal year 09 animals, consisting of 19 stal- 

 lions, 44 mares, and G geldings (work horses). One stallion, 1 mare, 

 and 2 fillies of approved type and breeding were purchased in Kan- 

 sas and added to the stud during the year. One of the stallions is 

 still leased to the Massachusetts Agricultural College for breeding 

 purposes. During the breeding season of 1912 an opportunity was 

 given to farmers in Vermont to breed to stallions at the Morgan horse 

 farm under the provisions of the plan for Army-horse breeding. 



The culling of inferior animals is continued each year by a board 

 of survey, so as to retain in the Colorado and Vermont studs only 

 such individuals as conform to the desired types. 



In the cooperative work of breeding gray draft horses at the Iowa 

 Experiment Station there are 3 stallions and 9 mares. Four foals 

 were produced during the year. 



A good start has been made with the plan of breeding horses suit- 

 able for Army use, as outlined in last year's report. Two stallions 

 were stationed in Virginia for breeding with approved mares, and 

 during (he year 38 mares were bred and 11 foals produced. It is 

 too early to report upon the foals, but it is evident that farmers 

 owning mares of satisfactory type are willing to have them bred to 

 the Government stallions on the terms proposed by the Government. 

 With the provision made by Congress this work will be extended 



