34 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



the activities of the bureau there has been a marked improvement in 

 the quality of these products entering interstate commerce. 



Concerted efforts of the inspectors have put an end to most of 

 the interstate traffic in decomposed eggs. Campaigns have been con- 

 ducted, in cooperation with the local authorities, to improve the 

 milk supply of several localities. Efforts have been made to induce 

 farmers to produce better milk and prosecutions have been insti- 

 tuted in many instances. As a result the milk supply of many cities 

 and towns has been improved. Seizure proceedings have been in- 

 stituted against a large number of shipments of canned beans con- 

 taining substantial proportions of decomposed beans. With the 

 assistance of the Public Health Service and the Bureau of Fisheries, 

 sanitary surveys have been made of the oyster beds on the Atlantic 

 coast. Sources of pollution and polluted areas were located and 

 the information conveyed to oystermen. Seizures of shipments of 

 polluted oysters were effected and a marked improvement in the 

 oyster supply, from the standpoint of wholesomeness, has been noted. 



Formerly it was the custom of many orange and grapefruit growers 

 at times to pick the fruit from the trees while green or partly green 

 in color and still unripe, and subject it to a sweating process so as 

 to give it the characteristic yellow color of ripe fruit. The incen- 

 tive to the grower was the higher price afforded by an early market. 

 Green citrus fruit which has been colored so as to give it the ap- 

 pearance of ripe fruit is adulterated under the law. Several seizures 

 have been made and the efforts of the department have resulted in a 

 material decrease in the quantity of sweated immature fruit sent to 

 market. 



The inspection of canned tomatoes has been continued, and an 

 improvement in the industry has been noted. Consideration also 

 has been given to other canned foods, many of which have been 

 found to be adulterated on account of imperfect methods of manu- 

 facture. A large number of shipments of cottonseed meal were 

 found to have a protein content materially less than that declared 

 upon the label, and appropriate action was taken. 



SHERLEY AMENDMENT. 



Special attention has been given during the last two years to the 

 enforcement of the Sherley amendment. The amendment declares 

 drugs to be misbranded if their labels contain false and fraudulent 



