THE MAINE EXPERIMENT STATION". 51 



purpose of the Station so far as it related to the "protection from 

 frauds in commercial fertilizers, and from adulterations in foods, 

 feeds and seeds." In place of this, special laws regulating the 

 sale of commercial fertilizers, concentrated commercial feeding 

 stuff's and agricultural seeds, and the inspection of chemical 

 glass-ware used by creameries, have been enacted. The Direc- 

 tor of the Station is the executive officer of these laws ; the 

 Secretary of Agriculture is the prosecuting officer. The cost 

 of the fertilizer inspection is borne by a brand tax, that of the 

 feeding stuff inspection by a tonnage tax and that of chemical 

 glass-ware bv a charge for calibration. 



DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION. 



The annual report and bulletins of the Station cover its opera- 

 tions and give a full account of all its work. Up to April, 1900, 

 the Station has published 90 bulletins and 15 annual reports, 

 making a total of nearly 3,500 pages of printed matter. These 

 publications are regularly sent to about 8,000 persons resident 

 in the State, and 1,500 outside of the State. The special calls 

 for the bulletins require an edition of about 10,500 copies. The 

 Station has 2,000 copies of its annual report and 10,000 copies 

 are distributed by the Board of Agriculture bound with its 

 report. 



Each month the Station issues a special newspaper bulletin 

 giving the meteorological report for the month, and from time 

 to time it issues newspaper bulletins on special topics which are 

 very generally printed by the press of the State. In a few 

 instances the Station has sent posters on important matters, to 

 railway stations, post offices, granges, etc., which have been very 

 generally displayed. 



The Station has a large correspondence chiefly with practical 

 farmers in the State. 'Careful attention is given to all inquiries 

 and it is believed that in this way the Station is increasingly 

 helpful to the farmer. The Director and three members of the 

 Station staff do more or less work in farmers' institutes and 

 other lectures. While it is believed that this work is helpful, 

 no more of it is done than seems to be necessary, as it encroaches 

 upon the work of investigation. 



