471 



Fertilizers (pp. 10-33). — Analyses are givoii of tliiity-ninp samples 

 of coiiiniercial fertilizers, made in eonnectioii wiili the State fertilizer 

 inspection of 1890 ; and of miscellaneons material sent to the station for 

 examination, anionti which are bone, ashes, l^Morida ])hos]>liate rock, 

 refuse from wool cleaning', peat, muck, lutrate of soda, muriate of pot- 

 ash, land plaster, and water. In twenty-two samples of the commercial 

 fertilizers analyzed determiimtions were made of the source of the 

 nitrogen present and its solubility in pei)sin solution. 



A comparison is made between the average composition of sixteen 

 brands sold in the State in 1880 and 1890. Valued on the same basis 

 (that for 1890) the average commercial valuation of the ingredients in 

 three brands is shown to be 11.84 x)er ton less in 1890 than in 1889. 

 "The decrease in price of these sixteen brands has been 88 cents [per 

 ton]." 



Abstracts of bulletins (pp. 34-51). — Abstracts of Bulletins iSTos. 

 18, 21, and 22 (see Experiment Station Eecord, vol. ii, pp. 74, 377. and 

 515). 



Wool and wool measurements, W. \Y. Cooke, M. A., and L. 

 R. Jones, B.S. (pp. 55-64). — The objectof these observations was, "(1) to 

 learn the character of Vermont Merino wool as compared with wool from 

 other breeds and localities, (2) and more especially to get data to serve 

 as a basis for future experimental work upon conditions afiecting the 

 wool fiber." The method of work is described at length. Measurements 

 were made of the diameter of fiber from different parts of the fleeces of 

 four registered Merino sheep — two rams and two ewes. The results of 

 these measurements are given in detail. 



"The measurements show the fibers from belly and shoulders to be of 

 nearly equal fineness, those from the belly being a little the finer of the 

 two. The order of fineness and the average diameters are as follows:" 



Centimilli- 

 nieters. 



TiAro inches. 



(1) Shoulder 2.252 



(2) Belly - 2. 262 



(3) Hip 2.327 



(4) Thigh 2. 534 



(5) Body wrinkle 2. 537 



(6) Neck wrinkle 2. 709 



0. 8866 

 0. S9(15 

 0.9161 

 0. 9976 



0. 9988 



1. 0665 



" Comparison of the measurements on the rams with those on the 

 ewes shows the rains' fibers to be slightly but not markedly larger than 

 those of the ewes." 



Effect of food on wool fiber (pp. 63, 64).— An experiment, lasting^ 3 

 months, was made with eight registered Merino ewes 2 years old, some 

 of the sheep receiving a nitrogenous and some a carbonaceous ration. 



Carefal measurements were made upon the wool at the beginning, the middle, 

 and the end of tlie period, but as the differences between the measurements upon 

 the same indiridiials were found to be greater than the differences between averages, 

 no conclusions were thought justiliablo. * * * 



