270 



ANNUAL REPORT FOR 1914 OF THE 



CONSULTING CHEMIST. 



The attention of the Chemical Department has been much 

 occupied during the year with the consideration of the affairs 

 of the Woburn Experimental Station, the much increased work 

 of which calls for larger support. 



Owing to the numerous facilities provided throughout the 

 country for the obtaining of analyses at cheap rates, there 

 is not now the same call as in earlier years for the exercise of 

 such analytical privileges as the R.A.S.E. gives to its Members, 

 though, in any case presenting more than usual difficulty, or 

 where an authoritative decision is required, the Society's 

 Laboratory still holds its place and function. It is all the more 

 desirable, therefore, that support be given to the scientific 

 side of the Society's work as represented at the Woburn 

 Experimental Station where investigations of practical utility 

 to Agriculture are constantly being undertaken. 



In this connection reference must be made to the death, 

 early in September, 1914, of Mr. H. M. Freear, who for fourteen 

 years had been resident at Woburn as my assistant, and had 

 .charge of the Laboratory and Pot-culture Station. Mr. Freear 

 was a devoted and able worker, and, by the deep interest which 

 he took in the work at Woburn, rendered valuable and lasting 

 service to the Society. 



The number of samples sent by Members to the Society's 

 town Laboratory during the year was slightly in excess of that 

 of 1913, the numbers being -136 as against -110 in 1913. To 

 this must be added 214 samples of Milk and GO samples of 

 Cider and Perry analysed in connection with the Society's Show 

 at Shrewsbury. 



Reference to the detailed lists given at the end of the yearly 

 reports would show that in 1914 there has been a considerable 

 increase in the number of samples of cereals examined ; these 

 were mostly " offals." A notable increase also was shown in 

 the number of waters analysed, 85 samples in all being sent 

 during the year. 



The chief features of the year were the adulteration of offals, 

 and, towards the latter half of the year, the stoppage of the 

 regular supplies of potash salts from abroad. 



Of new materials coming on the market there is nothing to 

 be specially recorded, but of those previously used, though not 

 to a large extent, one feeding-stuff, palm nut cake and meal, has 

 come much more prominently into use. Up to the present, palm 

 nut meal has liad only a limited use in this country. A certain 



