ANALYTICAL ASSOCIATIONS. 201 



probably only a small fraction. Unless feeding stuffs are sold 

 under an analysis, the Chemical Committee do not now give 

 grants for them, and therefore associations do not report them. 

 In some years grants were given for analyses of feeding stuffs. 

 whose only guarantee was that they were j9wre or genuine, or 

 something of that sort ; but it was found that cakes and meals 

 guaranteed in that way varied enormously in their composition, 

 and that the commercial standards of purity were of a very 

 fluctuating kind, so that buyers who were content with such 

 guarantees had no security that they were getting value for 

 their money. Owing to the fact that the Society does not give 

 grants for feeding stuffs bought without an analytical guarantee, 

 the record of such purchases does not come so frequently under 

 the notice of the Chemical Committee as it did in former years. 

 There is no reason to believe, however, that any material change 

 in the character of the feeding stuffs supplied has occurred 

 during the last few years, and one has only to refer to former 

 reports regarding the feeding stuffs supplied to the associations 

 to be assured that much loss is incurred in the purchase of 

 these materials. Such loss is not liable to be so great as that 

 which may occur through the purchase of inferior manures, for 

 the effect which the fodder has upon the progress of the stock 

 consuming it affords a practical means of estimating its value, 

 and any deficiency in a feeding stuff is much more easily and 

 rapidly remedied than is possible in the case of inferior manures. 

 When an inferior manure has been applied it affects the whole 

 produce of the crop for that season, but a feeder can alter the 

 quality of his fodder from week to week ; and if he finds that 

 his stock are not progressing according to his anticipation, he 

 can increase the quantity or alter the dietary, so as to attain 

 the effect he desires. But such increase of quantity is attended 

 with expense, which may seriously diminish his profits. It is 

 no uncommon thing to find two samples of cake selling at the 

 same price, and yet the one containing 20 per cent, more nutri- 

 ment than the other. The merchant who sells them may know 

 as little about their composition as the farmer who buys them, 

 and he may derive as little profit from the one as from the 

 other. He may have bought them from the maker, or imported 

 them under a guarantee of purity or under a brand, and may 

 know nothing about their composition. Having received no 

 guarantee, he gives none. It is evident that there is need of 

 education regarding the value of feeding stuffs, and that farmers 

 are not so well skilled in their purchase as they are in the 

 purchase of manures. 



There are few good farmers who have not a fair knowledge of 

 the quality of the manures they require for their various pur- 

 poses, and they can tell perhaps what are the proportions of 



