16 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc 



to give the data; but by a careful search it is estimated that more 

 than 600,000 tons were sold in 1914. This estimate indicates the 

 enormous trade in food for the animals of the State. 



The usual careful examinations of the samples gathered were made 

 in the Laboratory to ascertain if the guarantees were properly made; 

 they were also microscopically examined to learn if the ingredients 

 claimed were really present in each case. These critical examinations 

 show that the number of feeds adulterated or not up to standard are 

 growing less and less each year. This excellent record is due to the 

 vigilance of the agents and chemists of the Bureau, who are ever on 

 the watch for feeds unfit for animals. The citizens of the State can 

 be assured that their interests are lool^ed after by this Department 

 which is pledged for the protection and betterment of the citizens. 

 1 am sure your Excellency will be gratified with the most excellent 

 service rendered the people of the Commonwealth by the Bureau 

 and its official family. 



The provisions of the Linseed Oil Act were carried out as far as 

 the funds would allow. The act passed at the session of the General 

 Assembly of 1915, regulating the sale of Paint, Turpentine, and Putty, 

 the enforcement of which has been delegated to the Secretary, is 

 another evidence of the purpose to protect the people of the State 

 from spurious materials that are palmed off on an unsuspecting pub- 

 lic as genuine. The presence of this law on the statute books of the 

 Commonwealth will have a healthful influence upon the manufacture 

 and sale of these materials. 



In carrying out the provisions of the law regulating the sale of 

 seeds, 221 official samples were secured, representing 19 l^inds of 

 seeds. The object of the Seed Law is to improve the quality of seeds 

 which are sold in the State, to protect consumers against purchasing 

 seeds which are impure and which contain noxious weeds, by pro- 

 hibiting the sale of seeds which are inferior in quality and below 

 standard. 



The appropriations in carrying out the provisions of the various 

 acts which the Department is charged in enforcing is entirely insuf- 

 ficient to properly carry forward the Bureau. It is impossible to 

 make a thorough inspection of all the articles enumerated in the 

 several acts, and I would respectfully suggest to your Excellency to 

 recommend to the next session of the Legislature appropriations suf- 

 ficient to enable the Department to further protect the consumers of 

 the State in materials that are spurious or inferior in accordance 

 with the intent of the various acts charged to the Department for 

 enforcement. 



BUREAU OF STATISTICS 



This Bureau was created in 1913, hence is yet young, but shows 

 much vigor. Statistics are generally regarded as "stale" 

 reading; but there is no better way to indicate progress than 

 by comparison. Reference to the report of the Statistician indicates 

 sufficient evidence of the progressive policy of the Department in 

 bringing to the people of the State, in succinct form, what crops 

 Pennsylvania raises, amount of each, and the prices received for 



