92 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



REPORT OF THE CHEMIST. 



Professor C. D. Smith, Director: 



During the past year external evidences of the work of this dirison 

 have shown themselves in the two bulletins issued. The first one pub- 

 lished in December, 1902, entitled '^4nalyses of Some of the Commercial 

 Feeding Stuffs of Michigan," is the first one of this nature ever pub- 

 lished at this station and the rapidity with which the supply was ex- 

 hausted proved that it was of considerable interest to the farmers and 

 feeders of the State. 



Many letters were received from feeders throughout the State affirm- 

 ing their desire to cooperate in the effort to expose the real condition 

 of the feeding stuff market and many letters of approval were received 

 after the bulletins had been distributed. 1 mention this simply to show 

 that the live stock interests of the State are assuming such propor- 

 tions that the station is compelled to use its facilities to disseminate in- 

 formation regarding the scientific and economic use of the concentrated 

 feeding stuff's. It is highly desirable that a State law, regulating the 

 sale of these feeds, be enacted. 



The second bulletin from this division is somewhat similar to former 

 annual bulletins on the '^Analysis of Commercial Fertilizers." This bul- 

 letin takes all of the time of the chemist and an assistant from March 

 1st to July 1st. The inspections have heretofore been carried on entirely 

 in the spring. It is our purpose to make a partial inspection in the fall 

 and by so doing we hope to cover the fertilizer districts more thoroughly. 

 The fertilizer interests of the State are in a healthy condition and the 

 manufacturers are learning rapidly that under a rigid inspection and 

 analysis it is to their highest interest to conform religiously to the law. 



Michigan being the Mecca for breakfast foods, it has been considered 

 desirable to undertake a study of the various brands upon the market 

 and publish the results in bulletin form. This work was taken up last 

 fall but is yet unfinished. The work will be continued again in July of 

 this year. 



An experiment in animal nutrition was undertaken at the beginning 

 of January, 1903, bearing on the influence of a succulent feed on the 

 various factors of digestibility in an otherwise dry ration. This work 

 was taken up at this time because wet sugar beet pulp was most avail- 

 able at this time. The experiment covered three (3) months and some 

 "very valuable data was obtained — data of considerable significance scien- 

 tifically, and in view of the seeming valuable work it has been deemed 

 advisable to duplicate Ihe experiment this fall. This work is of much 

 value not only scientifically but practically for the agriculturalists of this 

 State are each year giving greater attention to problems of animal 

 production and nutlition. 



An unusually large amount of miscellaneous analytical work has been 

 done during the past year. Frequent are the requests from farmers, 

 throughout the State, for information concerning fertilizers, soils, feed- 

 ing stuff's, etc. It is the policy of this department to give such desired 

 inioi-mation whenever possible knowing that by doing so the station is 



