68 EXPERIMENT STATION. [Jan. 



protein and fat determinations on all samples, a fiber estimation 

 in many eases and a microscopic examination when further in- 

 formation seemed desirable. A protein and fat guarantee are 

 required bj law. It is felt, however, that the protein and fiber 

 content of a feedstuft' are a much better index of its true value. 

 Protein is the most valuable constituent, while fiber is of least 

 value, and it is a fact that any feedstuff which contains a rela- 

 tively high fiber percentage is quite apt to contain some infe- 

 rior by-product. For this reason more fiber determinations 

 have been made this year than ever before. 



Compliance with the Laiv. — Fewer violations of the law 

 have been noted than in previous years. Reputable manufac- 

 turers and dealers are coming to believe that the statute works 

 no hardship in honest products. The time is not far distant 

 when to neglect to brand a feedstuff will make the purchaser 

 suspicious of its merits. In the future, violations of the feed- 

 stuff's law will be placed in our attorney's hands for settlement. 

 In several instances this has already been done, and one case, 

 where goods were not guaranteed, has been taken into court. 

 The dealer entered a plea of guilty and the case was j^laced on 

 file. It is not the intention of those having the enforcement of 

 the law in charge to be overbearing in regard to this matter, 

 but any law which is not enforced soon becomes inoperative. 

 The benefits of the law are so obvious as to render it unwise 

 to allow it to become a dead letter. 



New Law. — At the time the present law was passed it was 

 not possible to secure the requirement of a fiber guarantee. 

 Since that time other States have enacted statutes which not 

 only require a protein, fat and fiber guarantee on all feedstuff's, 

 l)ut in addition a statement of composition in the case of all 

 compounded feeds. It is believed that Massachusetts should 

 enact a law requiring every package of feedstuff sold or offered 

 for sale to have attached the following information : — 



1. The number of net pounds in the contents of the package. 



2. l^ame, brand or trademark. 



3. l^ame and principal address of the manufacturer or job- 

 ber responsible for placing the commodity on the market. 



4. Its chemical analysis expressed in the following terms: 



