264 



quality. A surprising condition was noticed with regard to the rye and 

 w heat bran offered for sale in the Province of Posen. Of the 174 samples 

 of rye bran examined, only 21.6 per cent were found to be jmre, that i> 

 free from adulteration with other materials, and even these were n< »t 

 always in a good and fresh condition; C8.2 per cent had received 

 additions of rye chaff, 8.5 per cent sand or dirt (up to 18 per cent), and 

 18.2 i^er cent so nuich ergot that the bran was considered unsafe for 

 feeding. Another adulterant used for rye bran was finely ground oat 

 chaff, as large amounts of this material as 40 per cent being found in 

 some cases. The oat chaff" is said to contain only 1.3 per cent of 

 protein and 0.3 per cent of fat. It was also sold alone under the name 

 of "oat bran" at the ])rice of (Tther brans. The oS samples of wlieat 

 bran examine<l were found to be somewhat better, 07.8 per cent of 

 these being unadulterated; 28.5 percent contained rye chaff"; and 3.7 

 per cent admixtures of sand. It was observe*! in general that the 

 coarser brans produced in the roller process were almost entirely free 

 from adult<'ration, which would be more i)erceptible than in the case of 

 finer material. Tlie station has worked out a method for detecting the 

 adulti'ration of Thomas meal, and separating the adulterants quantita- 

 tively, wliich is not described in detail in the report;* and lias jtroved 

 the reliability of a method worked out elsewhere for the determination 

 of the free fatty acids in feeding stuffs. 



The work outlined for the ])resent year inclmles studies of feeding 

 stuffs in connection with the investigations undertaken by the Associa- 

 tion of German Stations, studies of the properties of hot and cold-pressed 

 rape cake, soil investigations, and field <'\pcriincnts in co«>pcralion with 

 an agricultural society in the Pro\ incc. 



Proskait; Dr. P. Sorttin r, tlinrfnr. — Sc\ < ral lu^w investigations have 

 been made during the year by Dr. Sorauer on jdant diseases and plant 

 l)hysiology. The report enumerates the following subjects: (1) The 

 diflerence in the behavior of the wounds of fruit tr<'es pruned at different 

 seasons of the year; (2) the symptcunatic significance of intumescence; 

 (3) studies of the canker occurring on the genus Bnbus', (4) investiga- 

 tions of the parasitic growth causing a blight on cabbages and other 

 Cnici/ircc', and (5) certain diseases of the grai)e\ inc. Jn IS'.M studies 

 of the first two subjects arc to be continued, and new oncr; undertaken 

 on (1) the formation of gum by injured (diseased) plants as a result of the 

 action of bacteria; (2) Vrrvnospofn vituohitWuX the means of condtating 

 it; (3) trials of copper preparations for parasitic diseases; (4) therust«of 

 fruit trees; and (5) the effect of noxious gases and fumes on fruit trees. 



Rcfjt'nwdJdc; Prof. H. Binier, director. — In 1800 this station made 

 examinati<ms of 1,508 samples of seeds, fertilizers, feeding stuffs, oils, etc. 

 In addition to this work three field experiments are repented as follows: 

 (1) Experiments with six difterent varieties of potatoes to study the 

 effect upon the yield and the starch content of tubers, of nitrate 



*Deut. landw. Prosse, 1890, i>. 525, 



