47 



In the last locality there is little difference ; but there is 110 reason why 

 in some cases, in fact many, there should not be an agreement where 

 the varieties possess similar capabilities of assimilation. 



One specimen, Serial No. 3200, from Nebraska, was by accident ana- 

 lyzed twice from the same bag. The results show the differences which 

 may be expected in work of this kind wbich we have had in hand : 



It may be said that the duplication was unknown to any one until 

 after tabulation, and the coincidence in all the results, which are not 

 variable in the preparation of the sample for analysis, was even better 

 than is to be expected. Moisture, even in the tightest- stoppered bot- 

 tles, is liable to change, as has been shown in previous reports, and 

 with liber, when present in so small amount, it is difficult to secure 

 duplicates which will not at times differ as much as half of one per 

 cent. Ash, oil, and albuminoids admit of determination with almost 

 the accuracy of inorganic work. 



A study of the analysis having shown that variations in chemical 

 composition for any one season are not accompanied by any corre- 

 sponding change in physical qualities, that the variations in any one 

 locality are often quite as large as over the whole country, and that the 

 Pacific coast alone produces a grain whose average composition is to 

 any degree different from that of other States, it seems probable that 

 the differences in composition are as largely due to soil as to other 

 causes. 



In this connection reference must be made to the recent valuable and 

 instructive experiments with oats, conducted at the experiment at Halle, 

 Germany, by Dr. Maercker, the results of which have appeared in the 

 Zeitschrift des laudwirthschaftlichen Verein der Provinz Sachsen, from 

 which it has been learned that the condition of the soil and manures 

 have a marked effect not only on the yield, but the composition of the 

 crop. 



The following are some of the valuable conclusions reached in 1883 : 



(1) 38 pounds of oats sown to the acre, in spite of a heavy application of artificial 

 manure, was not able to give so high a product as the same area sown with 84 

 pounds. 



(2) The application of phosphoric acid alone did not increase the product essen- 

 tially, in spite of the fact that the experimental field was in good condition and did 

 not suffer at all from the lack of nitrogen. 



