7S Agricultural Chemistry. 



II. EXTENSION WORK. 



As in previous }^ears the work under the extension fund has been 

 of a miscellaneous character. In response to various requests from 

 farmers, analyses have been made of the following: 



Samples. • 



Dried apples i 



Insecticides 12 



Fertilizers 3 



Feeds i 



Limestone i 



Preservatives i 



Quartz i 



Water i 



At the request of the Poultry Department analyses were made of the 

 following : 



Samples. 



Chick feed 19 



Litter 4 



Grit I 



Oyster shells i 



III. WORK IN PROGRESS. 



Several problems pertaining to soil fertility have arisen during the 

 present year. This Department is now undertaking work, which 

 it is hoped will bring to light facts of fundamental nature in regard 

 to this much discussed question. During the season of 1905 certain 

 small areas on the Mitchell farm were noticed to be decidedlv un- 

 productive, while the surrounding soil although of the same type 

 and possessing the same properties as far as could be determined, 

 Vv'as productive. Analyses of the soil solutions from the two areas 

 showed no differences except that the unpro'ductive soil contained a 

 much larger quantity of soluble nitrates. A chemical study of the 

 soil solutions has been begun and will be continued throughout the 

 growing season. Analyses of thirty-four samples have already 

 been made. 



A series of trials with alfalfa and timothy with special reference 

 to the effect of liming and the accumulation of nitrogen in the soil, 

 have been begun and will be continued during the present season. 

 Thirty-six samples have been examined for nitrates, and analyses 

 will be made at short intervals throughout the season. Eight samples 

 of soil have been analyzed in connection with the timothv fertilizer 

 experiments. The results seem to warrant a further study of the 



