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REPORT OF THE CHEMIST. 



(Frank T. Shutt, M.A., F. Inst. Chem., F.C.S.) 



Ottawa, 20th January, 1891. 



Wm. Saunders, Esq., 



Director, Dominion Experimental Farms, 

 Ottawa. 



Sir, — I have the honour to submit herewith the fourth annual report on the 

 work of the Chemical Department of the Dominion Experimental Farms. 



During the past year much has beeii accomplished, and the laboratory work, 

 ever increasing as the Experimental Farm system becomes better known and appre- 

 ciated, has been of a very varied charactei-. Farmers in all parts of the Dominion 

 are more and more taking advantage of the aid afforded them by the Government in 

 these institutions, and as a result a larger number of samples have been received for 

 examination and report. The correspondence of the Department has also greatly 

 increased, and much time is now necessarily expended in answering the enquiries of 

 agriculturists. This portion of my work, while forming no part of the annual report, 

 has been found very useful to the individual farmer. 



The samples sent in for analysis comprise principally soils, natural and artificial 

 fertilizers, waste products of an agricultural value, well waters and feeding materials 

 of all kinds. 



Only such specimens are examined, the knowledge of which is considered to be 

 of imjiortance and benefit to the farming community of Canada, or at least to a large 

 portion thereof. Exceptions to this rule are made, as in the case of well waters, but 

 even here the printed reports will prove of great service to all who study them. No 

 work is done of such a private nature that the report on it would benefit only the 

 individual. Much of the work has a national interest, as for instance, the analysis of 

 sugar-beets grown in difterent sections of the country, the examination of soils repre- 

 senting large areas, and the like. 



That intelligent interest that has been awakened in the value of such knowledge 

 is practically demonstrated by the fact that many samples of soils, fodders, ferti- 

 lizers, etc., have now accumulated, and for want of time, are still awaiting analysis. 



Besides this class of work, and, probably of greater importance to the Dominion 

 at large, is that which has for its object the solution of chemical questions in con- 

 nection with experiments planned and carried out on the Experimental Farms. These 

 investigations usually entail a large expenditure of time and work, consisting often of 

 a long series of analyses. Many of the experiments just referred to may be said to be 

 wholly chemical, while others require many analyses to make them complete, and, 

 consequently, more valuable. The chemical examination of different varieties of fodder 

 corn, native and foreign grasses, roots and cereals, ot animal products, such as milk 

 of the various breeds, finds its rightful place here. 



On account of this large amount of work and the consequent need of skilled 

 assistance in the laboratory, the services of an Assistant Chemist have been secured. 

 Mr. Adolph Lehmann, B.S.A., late of Guelph Agricultural College, was chosen for the 

 work. By the technical skill and ability he has displayed in chemical analysis, by 

 his untiring industry and by the warm and intelligent interest he has evinced in the 

 work, Mr. Lehmann has shown himself well fitted for the position. It is due largely 

 to his valuable aid that I am enabled to insert many of the analytical results which 

 appear in the present report. 



For convenience of reference, the following classification of the contents of this 

 report will be found useful. 



