3o8 Work of the Government Laboratory, [aug., 



Thirty-one of the samples shown as " condensed " milk were 

 "milk powder" or "dried milk," and in one instance the goods 

 were described as "humanised" condensed milk. In twenty 

 cases the condensed product was found to have been prepared 

 from milk deficient in fat, or from skim milk, without the pack- 

 ages being marked to this effect. In certain of these cases pro- 

 ceedings were instituted against the importers by the Commis- 

 sioners of Customs, and penalties were imposed. 



Of uncondensed milk, a smaller number of samples are 

 described as fresh, and a much larger number as " sterilized " 

 than was the case last year. Four of the samples were found to 

 be deficient in fat, and in six other instances the milk was not 

 entirely satisfactory ; these were reported to the Commis- 

 sioners of Customs, who initiated legal proceedings in such 

 cases as seemed to demand this step. 



Four of the samples forwarded as " cream " were shown by the 

 analyses to be merely condensed milk. In the true cream the 

 percentage of fat was found to range from 247 to 57*9 per cent, 

 and most of the samples contained boron preservative. Some 

 of the specimens of cream had been thickened by the addition of 

 gelatin, and proceedings were instituted by the Commissioners 

 of Customs against the importers. Technical legal objections 

 were, however, raised at the hearing of the cases, and these 

 objections were upheld except in one instance, where the points 

 are still sub judice. 



Sheep Dips. — It has been necessary to analyse sheep dips sub- 

 mitted by manufacturers to the Board of Agriculture and 

 Fisheries in order that the Board might be advised what articles 

 having regard to the dipping tests made by the Departmental 

 Committee, might possess a p'iind facie claim to be included in 

 the official schedule as efficient preparations. During the year 

 221 such products have been analysed and reported on, twelve of 

 these coming from the Department of Agriculture and Tech- 

 nical Instruction for Ireland. In the great majority of cases the 

 chemical constituents of the dips were found to be, in fact, sub- 

 stantially what they were stated to be. 



Miscellaneous. — The greater number of the samples included 

 under this head consisted of butter other than that sampled by 

 the Customs on importation, and of substances used in the adul- 



