1898.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. 33. 75 



ods best adapted for the estimation of starch in agricultural 

 products. This has involved a great amount of chemical 

 work, the extent of which it is impossible to express in mere 

 figures. 



Character of Chemical Work. 



Water. — The analyses of water have been made by the 

 same methods as heretofore, and with the same end in view, 

 namely, to aid farmers and others in guarding against the 

 danger arising from the use of waters coming from polluted 

 springs and wells. Illness frequently occurs in the family, 

 the cause of which it is often difficult to explain, until an 

 examination of the water reveals its pollution with sink, 

 privy, stable or other drainage. The waters tested show 

 much the same condition as in former years ; in round num- 

 bers, 15 per cent, could be pronounced excellent, 40 per 

 cent, fair, 25 per cent, suspicious and 20 per cent, danger- 

 ous for drinking. Fully 50 per cent., therefore, were con- 

 sidered of a suspicious character. Three samples were 

 found to contain lead, and had been known to have produced 

 lead poisoning. We can only repeat the advice given in 

 former years, in cautioning all who are obliged to depend 

 upon wells and springs for their water supply to take every 

 precaution to prevent any drainage from entering, and to 

 keep the grounds about the well or spring free from all 

 objectionable matter. Lead pipes should never be used to 

 draw water through, especially if the water is free from min- 

 eral matter (soft). 



MilJc. — The most of the milk received at the station has 

 been sent by farmers who ship their milk to Boston con- 

 tractors. They had probably been notified by the contract- 

 ors that their milk was below the Massachusetts standard,* 

 and they wished to ascertain its exact quality, and what, if 

 anything, could be done for its improvement. The larger 

 part of this milk was found to contain 12 to 12.5 per cent, 

 of solids and from 3.25 to 3.50 per cent, of fat, and was in 

 all probability the unadulterated product of the cow. The 

 contractor, however, because of the large amount of milk 



* The Massachusetts standard calls for 13 per cent, solids and 3.70 per cent, fat, 

 excepting during April, May, June, July and August, when but 12 per cent, solids 

 and 3 per cent, fat are required. 



