14 



ing the starch in potatoes, and also an account of experiments to test 

 the influence of various modifications of this method of analysis on the 

 per cent of starch obtained. 



(a) Different lengths of time of heatiug in acid solution on water 

 bath. The percentages of starch obtained by heating one, two, three, 

 or six hours were nearly the same, but when the heating was prolonged 

 to nine hours 0.6 per cent less starch was obtained. 



(b) On heating in closed bottles in water bath for three, six, and nine 

 hours the percentages of starch obtained were 17.80, 18.40, and 18.00, 

 respectively. 



(c) Three-tenths of a gram of crude starch mechanically separated 

 from the potatoes by grating, pulverizing, and washing on a fine linen 

 filter and drying at lOO^C. when heated as in Sachsse's method for three, 

 eight, and twelve hours gave 0.309, 0.30G, and 0.304 grams, respectively. 



(d) When sulphuric acid was used instead of hydrochloric acid in 

 Sachsse's process, 0.25 per cent, less starch was obtained. 



(e) In a single determination by each, Allihu's method gave essen- 

 tially the same results as Sachsse's, but the author prefers Sachsse's 

 because, as used by him, Allihn's method requires more time. 



Sugar beets (pp. 21-23). — This contains an account of a field experi- 

 ment with four varieties of beets (Lane's Imperial, Excelsior Sugar, 

 Vilmorin Sugar, and Improved Imperial Sugar) and the method and re- 

 sults of chemical analysis to determine their sugar content. The pro- 

 duce of beets per acre was from 24.2 to 30.4 tons and the amount of 

 sugar from 4,250 to 5,695 pounds per acre. 



It will be seen that there is qnite a wide variation in sugar content in the four 

 varieties tried last season. Enough, however, has been developed to create a lively 

 interest in the cultivation of the sugar beet in this State for purposes of sugar produc- 

 tion. The serious drawback seems to be the cost of the diffusion plant, as quite a 

 large amount of capital is required to prepare a suitable plant and furnish adequate 

 machinery. 



CONNECTICUT. 



The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station. 

 Location, New Haven. Director, Samuel W. Johnson, M. A. 



BULLETIN NO. 96, JANUARY, 1889. 



This bulletin describes an attempt to establish a method of valuation for mill- 

 products which are used as feed for dairy stock. It also contains analyses of a con- 

 siderable number of feeds which are now being sold in Connecticut. Some of these 

 feeds are of excellent quality and others are very poor or worthless, or are sold at 

 exorbitant prices. 



A condensed statement is also given of the proximate composition of all the feeds 

 in common use, and of the digestible matters contained in a ton of each, together with 

 the quantities of nitrogen, phosphoric acid, and potash per ton. 



The contents of this bulletin were included in the Annual Report of 

 the Station for 1888, a digest of which was published in Experiment 

 Station Bulletin No. 2 of this office. 



