4-5 EDWARD VII. SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 A. 1905 



REPORT OF THE CHEMIST. 



(F11.VXK T. Shutt, M.A., F.I.O., F.S.C., F.E.S.C.) ' 



Ott.vwa, December 1, 1904. 

 Dr. Wm. Sauxders, 



Director, Dominion Experimental Farms, 

 Ottawa. 



Sir, — I have the honour to submit herewith the eighteenth annual report of the 

 Chemical Division of the Experimental Farms. 



Though much of a new and interesting character will be found in the results 

 here presented, the investigations undertaken during the past season have for the most 

 part been similar in nature to those of former years.-' More or less assistance has been 

 rendered in all the branches of agriculture and, as far as possible, the more important 

 problems affecting the farming interests of the various provinces of the Dominion 

 have received attention and study. 



In addition to the work here recorded, we have examind a large number of sam- 

 ples of an agricultural nature received from farmers. 



Help also of a direct character has been given the individual through correspon- 

 dence — an important branch of the work of the division- 

 Addresses have been delivered at several of the larger agricultural conventions in 

 Ontario and Quebec, the following titles indicating the character of the matters dis- 

 cussed : — 



* The Economic llaintenance of Soil Fertility.' 



' The Importance of Clover as a Source of Humus and Xitrogcn.' 

 ' The Control of Soil Moisture in Orchards.' 



* The " Cover " Crop and Cultivation ; their Eelative Importance in the Manage- 

 ment of Orchard Soils.' 



' The composition of Concentrated Feed Stuffs as sold in Canada.' 

 ' The Factors which Control the Moisture Content of Butter.' 



* The Changes in Honey on Storage in a Damp Atmosphere.' 



Tour in British Columhia. — At the special request of the Provincial Government, 

 two months were spent in visiting the more important agricultural areas of British 

 Columbia. An account of this interesting and instructive tour will be found at the 

 conclusion of the accompanying report. 



two 



Soils. — A number of virgin soils from British Columbia have been submitted to 

 careful analysis. These include representative samples from Kingcome Inlet, Cape 

 Scott, Balfour and Kualt. A soil from Xew Liskeard (Xew Ontario) and one from the 

 Peace River district have also been examined and are now reported upon. 



In addition to these, we have received a large number of soils from farmers all 

 over the Dominion. These have not received complete analysis — and consequently do 

 not find a place in this report. From a preliminary examination and tlie determina- 

 tion of certain elements of fertility we have endeavoured to draw conclusions regard- 

 ing the rational treatment of these soils, and these particulars we trust have proved 

 of value to those sending the soils. 



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