BUREAU or CHEMISTRY. 253 



are of indirect benefit to the cotton gi'owers, since the price paid 

 bv the refiner for crude oil mav be grreater. 



Results of analyses of authentic peanut oils were published during 

 the year. 



Past results from research conducted elsewhere on cottonseed oil. 

 making it possible to utilize profitably cotton seed, which was con- 

 sidered until comparatively recently practically a waste, indicate 

 the possibilities of further research on vecretable oils. 



STOCK FOOD INVESTIGATIONS. 



Investigations are in progress on the utilization of waste products 

 as cattle feeds. A bulletin has been prepared upon the use of apple 

 pomace and apple pectin pulp. The work on this subject involved 

 a large number of laboratory determinations and lanre-scale feeding 

 tests of the pulp, in cooperation with the Bureau of Animal Industry 

 experiment station at Beltsville. Md. 



To help other bureaus of the department solve problems in which 

 the composition of cattle feeds and grains is a factor, many analyses 

 are made of samples submitted and the results reported to them. 

 During the year 15S samples were examined for the Bureau of 

 Markets and Crop Estimates. 1 for the States Relations Service. 72 

 for I he Bureau of Plant Industry. 19 for the Bureau of Animal 

 Industry, and 81 for the Forest Service. In addition, 2 were ex- 

 amined for the "War Department and 31 for the Panama Canal 

 Commission. These analyses are of great value in establishing 

 specifications and controlling purchases. 



A study has been made of the various portions of th& kernels of 

 grain sorghums in order to determine the suitability of grain sor- 

 ghums for feed and for milling purposes. The results are reported 

 in a bulletin in course of publication on the composition of feterita 

 and milo. 



In cooperation with the Bureau of Markets and Crop Estimates, a 

 study was completed on cotton seed and its products, the object beinsr 

 to determine the quality of cotton seed in different sections of the 

 country as a basis for practical standards and for a better under- 

 standing of the composition of cotton seed as affected by the locality 

 in which it is grown and the variation in composition during the 

 season. The results are given in Department Bulletin Xo. 948. en- 

 titled "Composition of Cotton Seed." which was published durinir 

 the year. 



CROP CHEMISTRY INVESTIGATIONS. 



A laboratory of crop chemistry has been recently established in 

 order to systematize and extend the work in this most important 

 agricultural field. Studies wiU be undertaken on the composition of 

 agricultural crops in a fimdamental way. Steps are being taken to 

 collect, critically digest, and summarize existing data in order that 

 gaps may be filled in our knowledge thus brought to light. Addi- 

 tional work will be carried on concerning the influence of environ- 

 ment on the chemical composition of crops, including certain fea- 

 tures of fertilization, such as the relation of chemical composition 

 and food value of crops to the time of fertilizer application. 



