6 9 



The natural means for replenishing the soil with organic cons 

 tituents is farm manures, but in the districts where such are most 

 required, the supply is frequently inadequate. In accordance with 

 the deductions drawn from the work of the Chemical and other 

 Divisions of the Experimental Farms, the rational plan is to adopt 

 a rotation including the use of leguminosae the nitrogen-gatherers 

 These latter are nature's soil enrichers. No other family of plants 

 can be used on the farm possessing the unique and valuable property 

 of appropriating the free nitrogen of the air nitrogen that may be 

 subsequently made available for succeeding crops. Not that the 

 fertilizing value of the legumes lies simply and solely in the nitrogen 

 they contain, though therein is their chief merit; the large quantity 

 of humus-forming material they furnish, the mineral matter 

 potash phosphoric acid and lime are features the significance of 

 which may in too many cases be underestimated. 



WORK ON DAIRYING. 



The Chemical Division has also rendered aid to the dairying 

 interests of the country, as for instance, is made clear by the follow- 

 ing bulletins issued during the past few years: 'The factors that 

 control the water-content of butter' ; 'Apparatus for determination 

 of water in butter' and 'The Sweet cream process of butter making'. 



SOFT PORK. 



Closely associated with the foregoing was the investigation into 

 the character and causes of 'soft pork' a work which was of undoubt- 

 ed value to the upbuilding of the export bacon industry. 



To publish even the briefest reference to all the undertakings 

 and accomplishments of the Chemical Division would alone occupy 

 much space. Sufficient has been referred to and briefly described 

 to indicate the character, scope and usefulness of the chemical work. 

 The field has been found wide and varied, and though much has been 

 accomplished, much more remains to be done. 



