REPORT OF THE CHEMIST 



159 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



Although in our past work -with inoc-ulating materials we have obtained at times 

 considerable increases in yield following upon inoculation, we have never had hitherto 

 results so favourable to inoculation. The yield on the treated plots was almost three 

 times that on the untreated plots. No doubt the phenomenal success of the inocula- 

 tion was in a large part due to the absence, or practical absence, of nitrogen-fixing 

 bacteria in the original soil, but it is gratifying to note that this large increase of 

 yield was brought about by the method that we have advocated as probably the most 

 effective and cheapest, namely, the use of soil from an area that has recently grown 

 luxuriantly the legume about to be sown. 



An inspection of the samples of alfalfa hay when received very clearly showed 

 that the plants from the inoculated area had been by far more robust, that is, taller, 

 stouter and greener, than those -from the adjacent uninoculated area. 



Analysis of Alfalfa Hays. 



The larger proportion of crude protein in the hay from the inoculated plot is a 

 matter of considerable importance, though not one of surprise, as we have in previous 

 work occasionally found the inoculated legume to be the richer in nitrogen. 



The results in the field and laboratory, therefore, show that in this case inocula- 

 tion has not only increased the yield, but given a higher nutritive value to the fodder 

 produced. 



FERTILIZING MATERIALS. 



FISH SCRAP FROM DOGI'ISH REDUCTION WORKS. 



Analyses of this product have been made annually since 1905, the results appear- 

 ing in reports of this Division. It is essentially a nitrogenous fertilizer, though con- 

 taining a notable amount of phosphoric acid. 



The sample examined in September, 1908, was from the Government Reduction 

 Works at Shippegan, N.B. Its analysis afforded the following data : — 



Analysis. 



Per cent. 



5-47 



• 78 



Moisture 



Nitrogen 8- 



Phosphoric acid 7-73 



Total mineral matter 19-77 



Mineral matter insoluble in acid -28 



Oil 16-58 



In certain important particulars this scrap is superior to samples previously 

 analysed, for while its nitrogen-content is fully equal to that in past years, the per- 



