198 ANNUAL KEPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



utilizing the bagasse — that is, the residue of the cane as it leaves the 

 mill — for fuel. The results of the work show that the bagasse can 

 furnish a large part and in some instances all of the fuel necessary 

 not only to drive the mill and press the cane, but also to evaporate 

 the juices to the condition of sirup. 



TRADE WASTES. 



Important studies have been made on the effect of smelter fumes 

 on farm crops, forests, and farm animals, and the data gathered have 

 been used by the Department of Justice in protecting agricultural 

 interests from such injuries. In a suit brought by the State of 

 Georgia to enjoin certain Tennessee smelters from destroying their 

 forests, the use of this information resulted in the smelters being 

 forced to condense the fumes. An experiment made to determine the 

 possibility of making sulphuric acid from this waste was very suc- 

 cessful, and the Tennessee copper companies are at the present time 

 producing from 100 to 300 tons of sulphuric acid a day. This total 

 output is used for making reverted phosphate and has greatly reduced 

 the price of this fertilizer. Thus a dangerous and devastating waste 

 product is now utilized to the mutual benefit of the smelters, the 

 forests, and the farmers. 



The scientific demonstrations of the extent of the injury caused by 

 such trade wastes, not only to forests, but also to irrigation streams, 

 farm crops, and animal life, has led the Department of Justice to 

 compel the western smelters near Government land to install devices 

 for the condensation of the fumes, to the mutual benefit of all 

 concerned. 



INSECTICIDE INVESTIGATIONS. 



The chemical examination of insecticides and fungicides has been 

 a potent factor in improving the purity of products now sold on the 

 market. Some idea of the value of such work to the farmer is gained 

 by consideration of the loss occasioned by the ravages of plant dis- 

 eases and insects. Experts have estimated that there is a loss of 20 

 per cent from these two sources, which, when applied to the farm 

 crops of 1911 valued at $5,307,000,000, would indicate a loss of about 

 $1,000,000,000. Probably one-third of this enormous sum could be 

 saved by the proper application of insecticides and fungicides of 

 the requisite strength and purity. Any inferiority in the quality of 

 these materials means the additional loss of the labor in applying 

 them. 



The early studies of this subject showed that many of the insecti- 

 cides on the market were of practically no value whatever, owing to 

 the fact that they contained little or no active ingredients. Other 



