REPORT OF THE CHEMIST. 



137 



Samples received from Farmers for Examination and Report, 

 November 30, 1896, to November 30, 1897. 



It has been quite impossible with the present staff to submit all these to analysis, 

 but as far as time allowed such as were deemed most important have been reported upon, 

 as follows : Soils, 28 ; naturally-occurring fertilizers, 29 ; manures, 5 ; forage plants 

 and fodders, 13 ; well waters, 68 ; miscellaneous, including dairy products, 41. The 

 rest await an opportunity for examination. This branch of our work is evidently one 

 that is much appreciated by farmers, and further expert assistance in the laboratory 

 will be necessary if the privileges in this direction are to be extended in the future. 



Mineral Specimens. — A very large number of mineral specimens have been received 

 for identification and assay during the past year. The chemical work of the farms is 

 necessarily restricted to matters relating to agriculture and we would, therefore, advise 

 our readers that we cannot undertake to report on such samples. 



Correspondence. — For the twelve months past the letters received by this Division 

 number 1,248 ; those sent out, 1,402. The correspondence is principally from farmers, 

 dairymen and fruit growers, and relates to soils, fodders, fertilizers and other matters of 

 agricultural importance. As it becomes more widely known that questions may be 

 sent, this branch of our work naturally increases. 



Meetings attended. — Since November 30, 1896, the more important conventions 

 attended and meetings addressed, include the following : — 



The Association of Official Agricultural Chemists, at Washington, D.C. 



The Farmers' and Dairymen's Association of New Brunswick, at Fredericton, N.B. 



Farmers' Institute Meetings at Jeffries and Penobsquis, N.B. 



The British Association for the Advancement of Science, at Toronto. 



The Central Canada Agricultural Association, at Montreal. 



The Fruit Growers' Association of Quebec, at Howick, Que. 



Farmers' Institute Meetings at Summerside, Charlottetown, Georgetown and 

 Alberton, P.E.I. 



Two lectures, entitled " The principles of Plant feeding " and " The principles of 

 Animal feeding," were delivered before the students of the Normal School, Ottawa, 



Mr. Henry S. Marsh, Associate of the Institute of Chemistry, has continued to 

 efficiently discharge the duties of Assistant Chemist, and to him my thanks are due 

 for much careful work and many of the analytical data contained in this report. 



I have the honour to be, sir. 



Your obedient servant, 



FRANK T. SHUTT, 



Chemist, Dominion Exjjerimental Farms. 



