REPORT OF THE CHEMIST 151 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



. An examination of the three * feeds ' bears out the deduction from the chemical 

 data with regard to their order of merit. Nos. 1 and 3 contain, in addition to crushed 

 oats and Indian corn, a considerable amount of bran — a by-product rich in protein. 

 The proportion of hulls is decidedly larger in No. 3 than in No. 1, hence the larger per- 

 centage of fibre in the former. In view of these facts, I am of the opinion that the 

 nutritive or feeding value of feed No. 1, compared with that of Nos. 2 and 3, is, in all 

 probability, greater than shown by tlie foregoing computation. 



THE SOJA BEAN. 



Experiments with Soja beans have been carried on for some years past at the 

 Central Farm, with a view of determining the value of this legume as a fodder plant. 

 As a field crop it was first ti'ied in 1897, and analyses were made in 1898 by us to 

 determine the relative nutritive properties of the plant when grown in various ways. 

 (Report of Experimental Farms, 1898, p. 147). In common with other legumes, the 

 soja bean plant was shown to be rich in albuminoids, and being able fairly well to with- 

 stand drought, it was considered a promising crop for use with corn in the silo. 



The Soja bean is now under trial as a ' cover crop ' for orchards, being sown early 

 in the season in drills. This method appears to have several advantageous features, for 

 it allows surface tillage (between the rows) throughout the summer to conserve soil 

 moisture and at the same time provides for an excellent growth (8 to 14 tons) towards 

 autumn to hold the snow and protect the roots of the trees. Its large percentage of 

 nitrogen gives it an especial value as a fertilizer. 



The following data give weights of foliage and roots, per acre, taken this season on 

 the Central Farm : — 



Tons. Lbs. 



Stems and leaves 9 1,700 



Roots 1,382 



Average height of plant, 3 feet 3 inches; roots taken to a depth of 15 inches. 



The illustration (see frontispiece) shows very well the general form and habit of 

 growth and also the numerous and large nodules with which the roots are supplied, and 

 by means of which the plant can obtain free nitrogen from the atmosphere. 



CHEMISTRY OF INSECTICIDES AND FUNGICIDES. 



POTASSIUM CYANIDE. 



This chemical is now used in large amounts in the fumigation of plants and shrubs 

 for the destruction of the San Jose scale. All nursery stock imported into Canada 

 from scale-infested countries must be fumigated at the port of entry and before distri- 

 bution. By the action of sulphuric acid upon the cyanide, hydrocyanic (prussic) acid 

 gas is evolved, the quantity being proportionate to the purity of the cyanide, providing 

 there is sufficient acid present. It is this poisonous gas which destroys the scale. 



From these statements it will be evident that the quality of the cyanide in the 

 Canadian market is a matter of some moment. We have accordingly, at the instance 

 of the Entomological Division, examined several samples of cyanide submitted by cer- 

 tain wholesale druggists, and obtained the following results : — 



No. 1. — Bottle labelled 'Potassii Cyanidum, C. P.' The Elliott Company, Ltd., 

 Toronto. The bottle contained 4 oz.; the cork was covered with a paper seal but not 

 waxed. 



Examination showed that it was sodium cyanide, potash being entirely absent, 

 (a) Sample from top of bottle. This, on analysis, proved to contain 60 • 26 p. c. of 

 sodium cyanide, equivalent to 33 • 26 p. c. of hydrocyanic acid. 



