6o MAIXE AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATIOX. 



gence to mix feeds can afford to buy it at anything like the price 

 ($70 per ton) asked. 



The Operation of the Law. 



It was and is the beHef of the writer that all the principal 

 manufacturers and dealers are reHable men, of strict integrity. 

 The enforcement of the law has been made on this assumption, 

 and we have enjoyed the cooperation of dealers and manu- 

 facturers, as well as that of consumers. No case of wilful viola- 

 tion has come to our notice. On the contrary there has been 

 an evident desire on the part of most dealers to live up to all 

 the requirements of the law. 



The most noticeable thing accomplished by the law is the 

 driving out of the State, the adulterated cottonseed meal which 

 was so largely sold in 1897. The law has come into effect with 

 little friction, and bids fair to run as smoothly and satisfactorily 

 as the fertilizer law. It protects both the dealer and the con- 

 sumer. It tends toward a more rational use of feeding stuffs, 

 which will be alike beneficial to the feeder and the dealer. 



Inspection of Chemical Glassware used in Creameries. 

 Nearly all the glassware that has been examined during the 



3'ear 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 ven.- small percentage of 

 the goods inspected the past year was inaccurately graduated. 

 All bottles and pipettes examined by the Station and found cor- 

 rect have the letters M. E. S. etched upon them. The text of 

 the law will be sent on application. 



SEED TESTING. 



The law passed by the legislature of 1897, while it imposes 

 certain duties upon the Director of the Station, is not an inspec- 

 tion law. Bulletin 36, published in August, 1897, contains the 

 law and rules for testing purity of seeds. Copies of this bulletin 

 are still available and will be sent on application. 



Since the enactment of a seed inspection law in ]\Iaine quite 

 a number of samples have been received by the Station for exam- 



