BUREAU OF CHEMISTRY. 145 



cooperating station was supplied with 54 samples, representing the 

 soils and subsoils from 27 States, and with the analyses of the four 

 varieties of cereals grown on these soils. There was also supplied to 

 each station a piece of apparatus designed by this laboratory, whereby 

 12 samplesof soil may be simultaneously subjected to specified constant 

 conditions of digestion, viz, a definite temperature and the continuous 

 agitation of the soil in its solvent. With this equipment the cooperat- 

 ing stations will endeavor to verify the scheme of analysis, as outlined 

 by this laboratory, and in addition such theories as have been or may 

 be proposed by authorities on this subject. 



A study of some of the sngar-cane soils of Georgia and Florida was 

 made in this laboratory during the past year. Sixty-five samples of 

 these soils were subjected to a complete chemical study, and the data 

 obtained have been compiled and incorporated in a bulletin on the 

 manufacture of cane sirup. 



The analytical work for the past year consisted of the analysis of 

 140 soils and 375 crop samples. 



FERTILIZER LABORATORY. 



Intimately connected with the laboratory devoted to the study of 

 the composition of soils is the one which has in charge the study of 

 domestic and commercial fertilizers. To this laboratory, of which 

 Mr. E. G. Runyan is chief, samples of soil are referred when the 

 object is simply to determine the quantity of plant food or fertilizing 

 material which they contain. 



The work done in this laboratory during the year ended June 30, 

 1902, included complete or partial analyses of the following materials: 



Mineral or nattiral products 26 



Fertilizers 40 



Aqueous soil extracts 6 



SoUs 112 



Miscellaneous samples - 37 



Total - 221 



The purity of chemicals purchased for the use of the Bureau has also 

 been determined in this laboratory, and a record has been kept of all 

 samples received in the soil, fertilizer, and various other laboratories. 



A considerable amount of time and labor has been given to the 

 testing of new and proposed methods of analyzing and valuing ashes 

 and other fertilizing materials, much of this work being carried on in 

 cooperation with the Association of Official Agricultural Chemists. 



CENOLOGICAL INVESTIGATIONS. 



This Bureau has continued during the year ended June 30, 1902, the 

 cBuological investigations of the previous year in collaboration with Mr. 

 Willia'm B. Alwood, of the Virginia Agricultural Experiment Station. 

 The chemical work in connection with these investigations was done 

 chiefly in the laboratory of this Bureau, but we are indebted also to Mr. 

 R. J. Davidson, the chemist of the Virginia Agricultural Experiment 

 Station, for a large amount of woi-k which he gratuitously contributed 

 to these investigations. This work was classified under two heads, viz : 



First. The collection and forwarding of various fruits for chemical 

 analysis with a view to a complete study of the composition of Amer- 

 ican fruits. This work was done with the special object of gathering 



AGR 1902 10 



