134 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



EEPOET OF THE CHEMIST. 



Prof. C. D. Smith, Director: 



I submit my report for the year ending June 30, 1898. 



WORK IN THE CHEMICAL LABORATORY. 



1. Sugar Beets. The most important work undertaken at the Chemi- 

 cal Department of the Experiment Station was on the composition and 

 manufacturing value of sugar beets raised in the different counties of 

 our State. This work was undertaken in collaboration with the Farm 

 Department of this college. The importance of this investigation be- 

 comes manifest when we consider that it laid the foundation for a new 

 and profitable industry in our State, giving employment to a large 

 amount of capital, afforded a new outlet for labor and gave the farmer 

 a new cash crop and diversified industry on the farm. It demonstrated 

 that Michigan stands at the front in the capacity to produce sugar for 

 its own people and even other States. 



The amount of work involved in this investigation is evident when it 

 required the analysis of 500 samples of sugar beets. The results of a 

 year's work on this subject were given in Bulletin No. 150, which has 

 been in large demand among the farmers of this State, and may be 

 called the Farmer's Text Book on Sugar Beets. 



2. Analysis of Commercial Fertilizers. The law requires the analysis 

 of all commercial fertilizers whose retail price exceeds $10 per ton. In 

 compliance with this law 73 samples of such fertilizers were gathered in 

 the open market from dealers having them on sale, and carefully an- 

 alyzed in this laboratorv, and the results given to the public in Bulletin 

 No. 161. 



The value of these fertilizer bulletins in giving farmers and gardeners 

 some guarantee of the purity of the materials as well as a basis for com- 

 puting their money value is shown by the demand for the bulletin. 



3. Analysis of drainage ivater. Analysis of 15 samples of drainage 

 water was made to find how much of fertility was carried off from a cul- 

 tivated field by subsoil drains. 



4. Analysis of fodders, etc. Sixteen samples of fodders, ensilage, 

 etc., have been made to determine the food value of different materials, 

 and how this is modified by different modes of treatment. 



5. Miscellaneous analyses. A large number of analyses have been 

 made, such as 7 of water, 6 of butter, 5 of milk, 5 of roots, 4 of honey, 

 3 of ashes, 2 of pollen and 2 of muck. 



These analyses were made by L. S. Munson, B. S., the efficient Chemical 

 Assistant in the Experiment Station. 



Respect lull v submitted, 



I R. C. KEDZIE, 



Professor Chemistry. 

 F. S. KEDZIE, 

 Adjunct Professor, 

 June 30. 1898. 



