8 MAINE AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. I916. 



STATEMENT BY THE EXECUTIVE OF THE LAW. 



A. M. G. Soule, Chief Bureau of Inspections. 



On the whole, .the registration of fungicides and insecticides 

 has been effected with considerably less labor than the year 

 previous, and the results of inspection have been fully as satis- 

 factory; this seems to be partly due to the fact that the law, 

 being a year older, is more thoroughly understood by the 

 dealers offering these products for sale, and also from the fact 

 that the dealers are more familiar with just what constitutes 

 an insecticide. In all, three hundred and forty-two brands of 

 fungicides and insecticides were registered in Maine for 19-1 5. 



It is with regret that we report such a small number of sam- 

 ples collected as compared with the number taken last year ; 

 the variety of substances collected, however, was nearly as 

 great, including arsenate of lead (paste and powdered form), 

 lice killers (in liquid and powder form), cattle oils, tuber tonic, 

 lime sulphur solution, Pyrox, sheep dipping powder, Paris 

 green, etc. Only thirty-three samples were taken ; inspection, 

 however, was not started as early as last year and, because of 

 this fact, before the Inspector had finished making a tour of 

 the State, many of the brands were not to be found upon the 

 dealers' shelves. 



As for the results of the analyses — as noted in the tabula- 

 tions — they do not show a serious deficiency in any one of the 

 products. In one or two instances the product is considered 

 unlawful as it did not bear the proper markings indicating the 

 quantity of the contents, but the insecticidal qualities have been 

 found to be up to the guarantees in the manufacturer's certifi- 

 cates and no hearings on this charge have been appointed. 



Not as large a number of insecticides were found offered 

 for sale unregistered as in previous years. Numerous dealers, 

 however, were found handling two or three unregistered brands 

 that have been sold extensively, and no apparent excuse could 

 be offered as to why registration had been neglected. One hun- 

 dred and sixty-two hearings were arranged. It will be the 

 purpose of this department to start the inspections for 1916 

 earlier and to deal less leniently with those found offering 

 unregistered goods for sale. 



