126 Maine; agriculturaIv e^xp^rimdnt station. 1911. 



wherein articles of agricultural seed, commercial feeding stuff, 

 commercial fertilizer, drug, food, fungicide or insecticide, are 

 manufactured, stored, transported, sold, offered or exposed for 

 sale." Under the provisions of these two sections the inspect- 

 ors have visited since the first of August, 1911, almost 600 gro- 

 cery stores and markets; nearly 2(X) drug stores; about 240 

 food factories, such as corn packing plants, sardine factories, 

 bakeries, botthng establishments and candy kitchens; about 200 

 confectionery and fruit stores; and over 130 hotels, restaurants 

 and lunch rooms. This is in addition to many feeding stuffs 

 dealers visited. Particular attention has been given to those 

 places where foods are manufactured, stored or dispensed. In 

 a large majority of the places visited no reasons for serious 

 criticisms were found. In a great many cases certain points of 

 minor importance have been noted and the conditions have been 

 improved upon, attention being called to them. For example, 

 general untidiness, unswept floors, occasional old goods which 

 were made and purchased before the food law was passed, sur- 

 roundings cluttered up, etc. Occasionally, however, conditions 

 are discovered which are filthy and vile and in cases of this 

 kind hearings have been appointed and a definite,, limited 

 amount of time has been allowed the proprietors of the premises 

 in which to remedy the defects, or clean up. In every case of 

 this kind it is gratifying to note that the improvement was made 

 immediately without resorting to prosecution. 



Food Factorie;s. 



There are in Maine about 75 factories where corn is packed, 

 and many of these were visited by the inspectors while in the 

 "course of operation, during the short canning season. For the 

 most part conditions here were fairly satisfactory, although in 

 several instances piles of sour corn cobs and refuse were found 

 in close proximity to the buildings where they would prove an 

 attraction for flies, and in other cases the toilet arrangements 

 were not satisfactory. 



During the course of a special study of the sardine packing 

 factories of this State, all of the 55 establishments of this class 

 were visited during the summer. Contrary to the popular idea, 

 the sanitary conditions in these places are for the most part 

 fairly good. Exceptional conditions found in a few of the fac- 



