DIRECTORS REPORT. II 



the law require, however, that these non-paying brands shall 

 be inspected, consequently it is possible for a manufacturer, by 

 selling a small amount of a large number of brands, to increase 

 the work of inspection entirely out of proportion to the analysis 

 fees paid. 



As the cost of the fertilizer inspection must be borne entirely 

 by the receipts from license fees, the inspection of the non-pay- 

 ing brands restricts the proper inspection of the regularly licensed 

 brands. To correct this evil the Station Council proposes to 

 ask the legislature of 1897 to so amend the law that the analysis 

 fee shall apply to every brand sold in the State.* 



INSPECTION OF CHEMICAL GLASSWARE USED IN CREAMERIES. 



Nearly all the glassware that has been examined during the 

 year has come from dealers in dairy supplies. It is reasonable 

 to suppose, therefore, that the butter factories have renewed 

 their stock by purchasing tested bottles and pipettes direct from 

 the dealers and are complying with the law in that respect. 



It has been gratifying to note that a very small percentage of 

 the goods inspected the past year was inaccurately graduated. 



During the year 1896 there were received and calibrated 801 

 cream bottles, 280 milk bottles, and 70 pipettes. Of this large 

 amount of glassware only one cream bottle and five pipettes 

 were found to be sufficiently inaccurate to throw them out. All 

 the milk bottles were correct. The Station has adopted a new 

 stamp, and bottles and pipettes found correct are now marked 

 M. E. S. 



The text of the law is printed in another place in this report. 



NUTRITION OF PLANTS AND ANIMALS. 



The box experiments for the purpose of determining the "for- 

 aging power" of certain plants for phosphoric acid have been 

 continued. The results obtained up to the spring of 1896 were 

 published in the report of this Station for 1895. 



Field experiments on the growth of forage plants and the 

 effects of fertilizers have been continued along the lines of other 

 years. So far as results of value have been obtained they are 

 given beyond. 



* This change was secured by act of legislature and approved by the governor 

 February 24, 1897. 



