104 



Part I, contains the analyses of soils from the Korth-West Territories and 

 New Brunswick, with explanatory remarks thereon. Some notes on the general 

 composition and character of soils are also added, which it is thought may be of 

 interest and use to our readers. 



Part II, includes natural and artificial fertilizers. Among these are to be found 

 marsh muds, mucks and peats, marl, gypsum, gas lime, wool waste from a woollen 

 mill and a report on the value of " lamb's quarter" (Chenopodium albuiii), as a 

 lertilizer. 



Part III, treats of the products of farm plants and animals, and comprises 

 analyses and reports on vai'ious food stuffs, including fodder corn, ensilage, grasses 

 and concentrated foods such as oil cake and cotton seed meal. The relative values 

 of certain varieties of potatoes as grown on the Central Experimental Farm during 

 the past season are here given. The composition of the sugar-beet is set forth in a 

 long series of analyses. These roots were grown in different parts of Ontario, and 

 the results no doubt represent a very fair average of what has been done during 

 1890 towards bringing this valuable crop to perfection. In view of the probable de- 

 velopment of the beet-sugar industry in the near future, the present ressults will be 

 deemed valuable. The composition of the milk of the cows at the Central Experi- 

 mental Farm appears in tabular form. These analyses are accompanied by such 

 other information and deductions as will render them of service to the farmer and 

 dairyman. 



Part IY, comprises miscellaneous analyses of substances under experiment or 

 otherwise connected with the farm. The subjects treated of form separate articles 

 undei the following titles : " The composition of apple tree leaves," being the first of a 

 series of analyses on the apple, with a view to ascertain a rational mode of fer- 

 tilizing orchards ; " A report on the effect of solution of copper and iron sulphates, 

 alone and togther, on the vitality of the wheat germ;" " Well waters," being a 

 useful chapter on a very important matter, and containing analyses of water 

 examined during the past year ; " Foundation comb," giving the composition of 

 three adulterated samples received for examination, to which are added simple 

 methods for detecting the presence of paraflSn. 



As in former reports, explanatory^ remarks accompany the analytical data. 

 These remarks have been made as concise and as free from technical terms as 

 possible, but are, however, stated in suflScient detail to make the purely scientific 

 results of value and sei'vice to the ordinary reader 



In addition to the work set forth in the following pages, there has already been 

 completed a series of analyses of several varieties of Indian corn as grown for fodder 

 — only the averages of which appear in this report — (See Fodders). The objects in 

 view when this task was undertaken were to ascertain the best varieties of corn as 

 regards composition and yield, and to find out the proper time at which to cut the 

 fodder for the silo. The details of this work and the deductions made from them 

 have been put into bulletin form, now shortly to be issued. 



The analyses of fifty-two samples of native grasses have also been completed. 

 These grasses were grown on the experimental plots of the Central Farm under the 

 direction of Mr. James Fletcher, the Botanist. The analyses show their com^josition, 

 and hence their value, at different stages of their growth. 



The native grasses of Manitoba and the North-West Territories are now under- 

 going examination. These have long been favourably known for their nutritious 

 properties by stock-raisers. Their true and comparative values, as determined by 



