38 EXPERIMENT STATION. [Jan. 



2. Numerical Summary of Laboratory Work. 



Erom Dec. 1, 1907, to Dec. 1, 1908, there have been re- 

 ceived and examined 143 samples of water, 625 of milk, 2,899 

 of cream, 122 of feed stuffs, 169 of fertilizers and fertilizer ma- 

 terials, 33 soils and 26 miscellaneous. In connection with 

 experiments made by this and other departments of the station 

 there have been examined 256 samples of milk, 19-1 samples 

 of skim milk and buttermilk, 54 samples of butter, 151 samples 

 of cattle feeds and 476 samples of agricultural plants. There 

 have also been collected and examined 895 samples of cattle 

 feeds in accordance with the requirements of the feed law, 

 and 624 samples of fertilizer in accordance with the fertilizer 

 law. The total for the year has been 6,667. 



In addition to the above, 23 candidates have been examined 

 and given certificates to operate Babcock machines, and 2,713 

 j)ieces of Babcock glassware have been tested for accuracy of 

 graduation, of which 33, or 1.22 per cent., were inaccurate. 



3. Report of the Fertilizer Division. 



Mr. Henri D. Ilaskins makes the following report, including 

 topics (a) through (j) : — 



The principal work of the fertilizer division has been in 

 connection with the official inspection of commercial fertilizers 

 and the analyses of materials forwarded by farmers and farmer 

 organizations. 



The new law, obliging the station to publish commercial 

 valuations and the percentage of differences, has added ma- 

 terially to the detail of the inspection work, more particularly 

 with reference to the necessary correspondence and clerical 

 work. The results of the year's work indicate a more complete 

 collection and analyses of the licensed brands than ever before, 

 and show, on the whole, an improvement over the preceding year 

 in the quality of the goods that have been sold in Massachusetts 



markets. 



(a) FerfiUzrr.'^ licensed. 



During the year 70 manufacturers, importers and dealers 

 have secured licenses for the sale of 409 distinct brands of fer- 

 tilizers and agricultural chemicals in Massachusetts; this is 



