268 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



a warrant was sworn out against John A, Higgins as Secretary and Treas- 

 urer of the Company. The case was tried before Justice Beebe at Sparta 

 where the violation was observed. The case was decided against the 

 Watson-Higgins Milhng Co. and a fine of $25.00 was imposed by the 

 court. The case was immediately appealed to the circuit court and 

 was scheduled to appear on the spring calendar. We recently learned, 

 unofficially, however, that the Judge ruled it out on the giound of tk) 

 cause for action. Up to this writing we have not been able to obtain ;i 

 leport on the case from the prosecutor's office. 



The second case was against the Coombs Milling Co., Coldwater, Mich., 

 foi- shipping "Bran with ground screenings not exceeding mill run" witli- 

 out previously taking out a license. The evidence was presented to 

 Prosecutor Knapp of Coldwater who very ably handled the case. The 

 warrant was served against Mr. John C. Amendt, Secretary and Treasui-er. 

 Bcfoi'e the case came to trial Mr. Amendt appeared before the Justice, 

 plead guilty and paid the fine of $25.00 that was imposed. 



In connection with this case valuable advice was given by Mr. Sheridan 

 Masters, Assistant Attorney General, for which acknowledgement is 

 gratefully rendered. 



Insecticide Inspection: Seventy-six samples of insecticides and fungi- 

 cides have been collected during the past two months and are now being 

 analyzed. The results of the inspections for the years 1917 and 1918 have 

 been published as Special Bulletin No. 96 which is now readj^ for distii- 

 bution. 



HATCH FUND. 



Since returning to the laboratory, Dr. Robinson has been devoting Ids 

 attention largely to an investigation of the use of ammonium citrate 

 in the determination of reverted phosphoric acid. This has reference to 

 the determination of available phosphoric acid in commercial fertilizers. 

 It is a very important subject and the results of his work will be of great 

 interest to all fertilizer control laboratories as well as to manufacturers. 

 The results of the investigation will soon be ready for pubhcation. 



ADAMS FUND. 



Project 2h: "Absorption in relation to soluble fertilizer salts". Mr. 

 Winter has been in charge of this work during the past year and has demon- 

 strated that soils may become "acid" simply by leaching. In order to 

 prove this some alkaline soils and soil forming rocks were set up and water 

 charged with carbon-dioxide was caused to percolate through them for 

 varying lengths of time. In every case an excess of basic material was 

 removed and the remaining soils, after being thoroughly washed with 

 distilled water were found to be distinctly acid to sensitive litmus paper. 



A simple method for measuring the amount of "acidity" or lime-re- 

 quirement is now being investigated. This method depends upon the 

 measurement of the hydrogen ion concentration of a water extract of the 

 soil by the colorimetric method. The results of this work are very promis- 

 ing. 



Project 2ha: "The organic nitrogenous compounds in peat soils". Since 

 Mr. Miller's return, he has been making a study of the acid amide content 

 of peat soils upon the assumption that this class of nitrogen should be 

 the most readily available as a source of plant food. 



