524 



To secure a better knowledge of the individual coustituents of tbe 

 more important commercial feeding stuffs, one, two, or three separate 

 articles have been assigned to each of a large number of specialists for 

 thorough investigation. Investigations of the constituents of over fifty 

 of the more important by-products in the manufacture of flour, starch, 

 sugar, beer, liquors, and volatile and fatty oils used for feeding are 

 thus provided tor. 



The desirability of guarantees of composition in the sale of feeding 

 stuft's was discussed, and steps were taken toward promoting it. 



The adulteration of ieeding stufits and the injurious effects arising 

 from the same were discussed, and the importance of veterinary assist- 

 ance was urged. 



SOIL ANALYSIS. 



Sampling. — In behalf of the committee of the association on this sub- 

 ject, which had met in August, 1890, Professor v, Wolff, of Hohenheim, 

 presented a report, on the basis of which the Ibllowing recommenda- 

 tions were adopted : A soil is to be sampled by taking, according 

 to the size of the field, 3, 5, 9, 12, or more samples in different 

 places at like distances from one another. These samples are each 

 to represent a vertical section of the soil to the depth to which it is 

 plowed, or, for examination of the subsoil, to a depth of CO to 90 cm. 

 (24 to 35 inches). The different samples are to be examined sepa- 

 rately, or, in case it is only required to know the average of the whole 

 field, they are mixed thoroughly and an average sample examined. 



Mechanical analysis.— The sieves recommended are as follows: (1) 

 Gauze sieve No. 10, Erhardt & Metzger, Darmstadt; meshes, 0.09 mm. 

 square or 0.11 mm. diagonally. (2) Brass-wire sieve No. 100, Kahl, 

 Hamburg; meshes, 0.14-0.17 mm. square, or 0.45-0.50 mm. diagonally. 

 (3) Brass-wire sieve No. 50, Kahl, Hamburg; meshes, 0.35-0.39 mm. 

 square or 0.45-0.50 mm. diagonally. (4) Punctured brass sieves with 

 holes 1.2 and 3 mm. in diameter. Five hundred grams of soil are to 

 be mixed iu a porcelain dish with about 1 liter of water, and heated on 

 a water bath, with frequent stirring, for about 2 hours or until the 

 sample is thoroughly macerated. The sample is then mechanically 

 analyzed by washing through the different sieves placed under water, 

 using a brush for stirring the soil in the sieve. The amount left on 

 each sieve is dried and weighed. The amount passing sieve 1, dust 

 and clay, may be further analyzed by the Wagner modification of the 

 Kiihn separating cylinders, obtainable from Erhardt «& Metzger, Darm- 

 stadt. 



Chemical analysis. — That part of the untreated sample which passes 

 the 3-mm. sieve (dry screening) is taken for chemical analysis. The 

 mineralogical character of the coarser particles is to be determined 

 as far as possible. The determinations ordinarily required are those 



