206 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc. 



KEPOET OF THE BUREAU OF CHEMISTRY FOR THE YEAR 



1915 



Prof. JAMES W. KELLOGG, Chief Chemist. 



The work accomplished by the Bureau of Chemistry during the 

 year 1915 has included the chemical analysis and microscopical 

 examinations, clerical and administrative duties necessary in enforce- 

 ing the provisions of the control laws regulating the sale of Feeding 

 Stuffs, Linseed Oil and Seeds and making preparations for the work 

 necessary in carrying out the provisions of the laws regulating the 

 .^ale of I'aint. Putty and Turpentine, which became effective Decem- 

 ber 1 and the Lime Law which became operative January 1, 1916. 



Because of the greater importance of the Feeding Stuffs industry 

 to the agricultural interests of the State and the amount of funds 

 made available for this work as compared with the inspection of 

 Linseed Oil and Seeds, a larger proportion of the year's work has 

 been devoted to the collection and analysis of Feeding Stuffs. Un- 

 der the direction of the General Agent, who has charge of the field 

 work. Special Agents visited 293 towns and cities in 50 counties of 

 the State and obtained 1,261 official samples of Feeding Stuffs, repre- 

 senting the various brands of feeds being offered for sale. These 

 samples were placed in bottles and sent to the Bureau of Chemistry 

 for analysis, together with a report covering each sample showing 

 the markings on the sacks or on attached cards. A number of places 

 were visited where no samples were taken for the reason that the 

 brands of feed found being sold were represented by samples secured 

 in other or nearby localities. In addition to securing samples, all 

 shipments of feed and especially those where samples were not taken, 

 were examined by the agents to determine whether or not the law 

 was being complied with in regard to the sacks or attached cards 

 being printed with the required information. In cases where the 

 labeling appeared at all improper, even if a number of samples of the 

 brand represented had been already secured, additional samples 

 were taken and a report made of the method of labeling, amount of 

 feed in stock, etc. Each of the official samples of feeds were care- 

 fully analyzed for Moisture, Crude I'rotein, Crude Fat, Crude 

 Fiber, and examined microscopically to determine whether or not 

 the guarantees and list of ingredients claimed were correct and also 

 to determine whether or not inferior feed by-products or products 

 prohibited by the law from being used were present. The result se- 

 cured, together with the guarantees, were compared with the infor- 

 mation included on registrations on file. 



A report including tlie information submitted by tlie Special 

 Agents, togetlior with the results of analysis covering each sample, 

 was submitted to the Secretary of Agriculture. Reports were also 

 sent to the dealers from whom each sample was secured and to the 

 manufacturers. Wliere variations were found to exist, both manu- 

 facturers and dealers M^erc immediately notified by remarks on the 

 reports where the variations were of minor importance, and by letter 

 accompanying reports when discrepancies noted warranted special 

 attention. From time to time as reports were made to the Secretary 



