washed out by the reagent. We then used it in an upright position. 

 This modification and the use of an inner tube of suitable bore, formed 

 a combination that worked admirably, causing - the inner tube to flush 

 quickly and thoroughly. It necessitated considerable experimenting to 

 ascertain the best size of inner tube to use, one neither too large nor yet 

 too small in bore, as each extreme presented its own difficulties. 



The graduated receiving vessel had, of course, to be made of glass. 

 We tried several forms and sizes, finally adopting that shown (and 

 marked C.) in the illustration appearing in the bulletin. The oval- 

 shaped, wide-mouthed upper portion forms a suitable receiver for the 

 condensed moisture and reagent and a reservoir for the latter, while the 

 constriction and outward curvature at the mouth and the spring wire 

 clamp on the bottom of the condenser form a combination for readily 

 attaching the receiver to the condenser and just as readily detaching it. 

 The tube forming the lower portion of the receiver is of suitable bore 

 to be graduated for reading per cent, of moisture for the size of sample 

 taken, while the stop-cock at the bottom is for emptying purposes. 



We wished to have the whole apparatus so constructed that it could 

 be readily taken apart and packed for use by travelling inspectors, and in 

 this we feel that we have been singularly successful. 



For the purposes of this test, we found that a sufficiently accurate, 

 and otherwise suitable, balance was obtainable at a reasonable price, 

 thus making the whole apparatus really no more expensive than would 

 be a balance alone which would be sufficiently accurate to be used in 

 connection with any of the beaker tests, since they necessitate the use of 

 a balance that will weigh accurately, in grams, to the second decimal 

 place. To facilitate the work of readily balancing the cup on it for 

 weighing the sample we devised a counterpoise to be attached to one 

 of the arms of the balance. (See illustration.) This saves time in the 

 weighing of the sample, making it a very quick process. 



We felt that the only problems left to solve were those of getting 

 a suitable metal evaporating cup, and of satisfying ourselves with regard 

 to the reagent to use. After some difficulty we succeeded in getting a 

 cup of thin sheet copper made by the spinning process, thus eliminating 

 the use of solder, which would melt under the heat applied. We had 

 considerable difficulty in getting a satisfactory steam-tight joint in the 

 cup, however, but we have proved that the one we are now using is 

 perfectly reliable. The form of cup is cylindrical, which renders it easy 

 to weigh the sample into and to clean. 



The problem of the best and cheapest reagent to use proved to be 

 the hardest of all to solve. The main difficulty, outside of the feature 

 of expense, lay in the fact that all the reagents we tried (and we tried 

 many) seemed to absorb part of the moisture driven from the sample 

 under the test, and thus delivered a shortage of water, and caused the 

 readings to be too low. We had the receiving tube graduated to read 



