56 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



202 interstate samples of water, 18 were rcportetl to the Board of 

 Food and Drug Inspection as adulterated, and 2 seizures were made. 

 Of 43 import samples 8 were found to be adulterated or misbranded 

 and their exclusion recommended. A study of the mineral springs of 

 the United States at source has been continued, and information 

 covering the springs of New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania 

 has been made ready for publication. This is the first attempt that 

 has ever been made to make a sj^stematic investigation of American 

 mineral springs. The results will be of the greatest value to physi- 

 cians, users of various waters, chemists, and those engaged in the 

 enforcement of the national food and drugs act or State laws of a 

 similar character. A study of methods of determining lithium in 

 mineral waters has been completed and the results published, which 

 will be invaluable to water analysts and those engaged in enforcing 

 food laws. Special investigations have been made of the pollution of 

 the Potomac Eiver and the effect of such pollution on oysters and 

 other shellfish. More extended work must be performed along this 

 line before the results are ready for publication. 



INSECTICIDES AND FUNGICIDES. 



The chemical work on insecticides and fungicides has included 

 studies of the composition and methods of manufacture of these 

 products, as well as the effect they have upon the foliage, with the 

 idea of increasing their efficacy, suggesting methods of avoiding 

 injur}^ to fruit and foliage, and suggesting to the farmer or fruit 

 grower how to prepare such products where this is practicable. Such 

 studies as these have resulted in and will result in a great saving to 

 the farming communit}^, both in the initial cost of insecticides and 

 fungicides and in the saving from using insecticides and fungicides 

 which will not burn vegetation. During the year 293 domestic sam- 

 ples of insecticides and fungicides (other than cattle dips and closely 

 allied preparations) and 25 foreign or import samples have been 

 examined under the provisions of the insecticide act of 1910. This 

 act was designed to prevent the misbranding and adulteration of 

 such goods, and its good effects can already be seen by users of these- 

 commodities. Of the 293 domestic samples examined, 131 w^ere re- 

 ported to the Insecticide and Fungicide Board as adulterated or mis- 

 branded, and of the 25 foreign samples 14 were recommended for 

 detention at the port of entry. Considerable attention has been 

 devoted to improved and new methods for examining insecticides and 

 fungicides, and in consequence of this work not only have the methods 

 of examining various miscellaneous insecticides and fungicides been 

 worked out, but methods for examining such standard preparations 

 as lime-sulphur, Bordeaux mixture, and Bordeaux lead arsenate paste 



