EXPERIMENT STATION REPORTS. 183 



work is of great interest in view of the fact that there is a very strong senti- 

 ment, both among consumers and manufacturers of commercial fertihzers, 

 for a guaranteed statement of the available instead of total nitrogen. 



The gasometric method for the analysis of limestone, referred to in my 

 last report, is being further studied with a view to making it suitable to more 

 general application. This method has already been applied to the analysis 

 of baking powders and considerable work has been done in colla1x)ration with 

 other analysts with the object of .having it adopted as an official method in 

 the analysis of baking powder bj' the Association of Official Agricultural 

 Chemists. The results will be pubhshed in the journal of that association. 



Some cooperative work has been carried on in conjunction with the Entomo- 

 logical section on the reaction of feces. The object of the work is to deter- 

 mine the variation in the reaction and its relation to the control of intestinal 

 parasites. 



An investigation of the relation of the reaction and carbon dioxid content 

 of milk and infection with B. Abortus has been started in cooperation with 

 the Bacteriological section. Promising results have been obtained, but the 

 work is still too ncAv to warrant a prediction of its value. 



ADAMS FUND. 



Project 2b — "A Stud}' of the Physical-chemical Aspects of Soil Acidity"'. 

 Mr. E. J. iMiller has spent practically all his time on this project during the 

 past year. Special attention has been paid to the fundamental nature of 

 the phenomenon of adsorption and its bearing on soil acidity. One phase 

 of the subject is nearing completion and results of a fundamental importance 

 have been obtained. 



Project 2ba— "The Organic Nitrogenous Compounds in Peat Soils". Work 

 on this project has been continued along lines pre\dously outlined. A scien- 

 tific paper reporting results of this work aWII appear in the current volimie 

 of Soil Science. 



Project 2c — "AStudy of the Preparation and Properties of Pure "S'cgetable 

 Proteins". Work on this project has been confined to preliminary studies of 

 the methods for purifying the necessary reagents that are not procurable 

 from manufacturers. 



MISCELLANEOUS. 



Two hundred thirty-four samples of a miscellaneous nature were analyzed 

 during the year. This includes the analysis of a number of samples of stock 

 tonics and conditioners not covered by the feeding stuffs law. Several flour 

 mills were inspected during the year for the purpose of securing typical and 

 reliable samples of wheat mill offals, that is. bran and middlings. This was 

 done in cooperation with the Association of Feed Control Officials, the object 

 being the establishment of chemical standards for the wheat by-products. 



In conclusion, I Ansh to call your attention to the fact that all of the members 

 of this section are now free to devote their entire time to research problems, 

 and we stand read}^ and willing to cooperate with other sections of the Experi- 

 ment Station on problems that require chemical control. We feel verj^ 

 strongly that all chemical problems should be referred to the Chemical section 

 and we urge your support to this end. 



Respectfullv, 



ANDREAV J. PATTKX, 



Chemist. 

 East Lansing, ISlichigan, June 30, 1921. 



