116 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE 



SPECIAL LINES OF WOUK. 



1. Sii«rar beets. Four hnndred nnalvses of sn<»ar beets to determine 

 sugar c-outeut, purity and estimation of marc have been made. Much 

 of this work was performed for the Farm Department in determining 

 the kind of soil suitable for sugar beets and the influence of fertilizers 

 on tlie growth and value of the beets. Soils of different kinds and 

 farms of dilferent localities were used. 



2. By products of beet sugar factory, e. g., the fertilizing value of 

 lime-cake, molasses from the factory, and the beet pulp. These in- 

 vestigations were made to determine the recuperative value of these 

 by products of the factory, in preventing exhaustion of the soil by 

 cropping with sugar beets. 



3. Samples of beet pulp from Alma, potato pulp from the starch 

 factory at Traverse City and buckwheat middlings from Battle Creek. 



4. Ten samples of feeding-stuff to determine the amount of protein 

 or nitrogenous matter. 



5. Eight samples of fertilizer from the Farm Department. 



6. Four samples of ashes from Grand Rapids garbage plant for Hor- 

 ticultural Department. 



7. Four samples of soil for Gov. Bliss. 



8. Meteorological observations. For a period of 38 years tri-daily ob- 

 servations on the temperature, moisture, clouds, winds and rainfall 

 have been taken at this college, these have been continued the past 

 year. 



9. Fertilizers and bulletins. The gathering in the open market of the 

 specimens for analj'sis of all commercial fertilizers, the chemical 

 analysis of the same, and publishing the results in a Fertilizer Bulletin, 

 take up more of the time and work of the chemist of the station than 

 any other subject. The license for the sale of such fertilizers for the 

 year dates from the first of May, but it is difficult to secure a complete 

 set of fertilizers at so early a date, and it often happens that the com- 

 plete set cannot be found till the middle of June. We aim to issue the 

 Fertilizer Bulletin by June 30, but it is often delayed for this reason, 

 causing complaint of some persons. 



The large demand for the Fertilizer Bulletin shows that the work 

 of the Experiment Station in this line is appreciated. 



The cordial relations existing between the soil-producers of every 

 class and the Experiment Station of the Agricultural College are omens 

 of good to all parties. 



Respectfully submitted, 



R. C. KEDZIE, 

 Chemist of Experiment Station. 

 Agricultural College, Mich. 

 June 30, 1901. 



