REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF GARDENS. 61 



skimmed milk, butter, and cheese. These effects increase "with a decline 

 of temperature. He therefore considers the practice of warming dairies 

 in winter objectionable, and that the temperature should be kept as low 

 as possible. 



Another advance in technical chemistry relating to agriculture that 

 has been recorded is in reference to the purification of sugar. On 

 account of tlie insolubility of magnesia and its compounds in saccharine 

 liquors, M. M. C. Bernard and L. Ehrmann have made experiments with 

 reference to its suitability for industrial application to defecation of 

 eugar-solutions. When employed for this purpose in the proportion of 

 0.3 to 0.5 per cent, of the liquor to be operated upon, the defecation was 

 complete and the liquid made clear. They made use of calcined mag- 

 nesia, the hydrate, carbonate, and phosphate, but give preference to 

 the calcined magnesia. As a result of their experiments, they obtained— 



1. A yield in white sugar of the first crystalUz.atiou C to 7 per cent. 

 higher than that generally obtained. 



2. A quality of sugar in no way inferior to the fine qualities obtained 

 by the regular methods of manufacture. 



They insist that the magnesia forms no combination with the sugar, 

 and may therefore be used in excess vrith no necessity for treatment 

 with carbonic acid and animal charcoal. It settles to the bottom of the 

 vessel and remains behind on drawing off the liquid. 



This resume of the work accomplished in foreign laboratories may 

 not include all the discoveries made during the year within the domain 

 of agricultural chemical science, but it embodies the results of the most 

 important investigations that have been publishnd in the regular peri- 

 odicals, and it may not be devoid of interest to the readers of this 

 report. 



In our own laboratory, investigations of an important character other 

 than those the results of which are given in this report have been under 

 way and are in the process of completion, and reports upon them must 

 therefore be withheld for a future occasion. 

 Very respectfully, 



WM. McMUKTRIE, 



CJwmist. 

 Hon. Fred'k Watts, 



Commissioner. 



REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF GARDENS 



AND GROUNDS. 



Sir : I have the honor to submit the following report : 

 The improvement of the grounds and the enlargement of the collection 

 of plants in the arboretum is prosecuted from time to time as far as the 

 means available for these purposes will admit. 



The herbaceous ground, intended to contain specimens of all native 

 plants not properly admissible in the ligneous collection, has been laid 

 out and is now ready for planting. Special efforts will be required to 

 complete this collection ; a large number can be raised from seeds, plants 

 of many species can be procured from commercial sources, and some by 

 exchanges with botanic gardens, but the chief reliance will be upon com- 

 petent collectors in various parts of the country. 



