102 EXrEKLMENT STATION. [Jan. 



DEPARTMENT OF PLANT AND ANIMAL CHEMISTRY. 



REPORT OF THE CHEMIST. 



JOSEPH B. LINDSEY. 



This report is intended to give an outline of the work in 

 progress by this department during the year ending Dec. 1, 

 1912. 



1. Work of the Research Section. 



(a) Work on the chemistry of insecticides undertaken in 

 co-operation with the department of entomology has been 

 largely completed, and a somewhat comprehensive paper on 

 the subject was published in the twenty-fourth report. A paper 

 on the chemistry of calcium arsenite was also presented by Mr. 

 Holland to the International Congress of Applied Chemistry 

 in September, 1912. Some additional work will be required 

 for several years in testing the purity of the insecticides em- 

 ployed each year in spraying. 



A reasonably satisfactory method has been developed for the 

 quantitative determination of the insoluble fatty acids in butter 

 fat. ■ It is now being applied in the analysis of fat produced by 

 cows at the 1)eginning and end. of lactation, and of that yielded 

 by fat and thin cows at the beginning of lactation. The objec- 

 tion to the method is the length of time required for its comple- 

 tion. Another method is under consideration which, it is hoped, 

 will yield equally good results in much less time. 



The subject of the digestion depression produced by molasses 

 has been further studied by noting its peristaltic action on the 

 intestines. The observations confirmed those previously made, 

 indicating it to he without noticeable effect. 



(&) Mr. Morse has made distinct progress in his study of 



