number; deficient in fat, 3.5 percent and 4.0 percent contained an excess of 

 crude fiber. Detailed results of the analysis are published in Bulletin 428 of 

 this Station. 



The accuracy and effectiveness of methods used in the laboratory are 

 checked regularly. A series of 15 samples supplied by the American Oil 

 Chemists Society and another of 6 samples supplied by the Association of 

 Feed Control Officials were analyzed. More than 100 laboratories participate 

 in this program and it provides a measure of the accuracy of our analytical 

 work. The laboratory continues its collaborative work with the Association 

 of Official Agricultural Chemists in the development and improvement of 

 analytical methods. 



A total of 75 samples of miscellaneous materials, hay, silages, feeds, and 

 fertilizer materials were examined for residents of the state. Many of these 

 required analytical work. While it is our policy to render such help to resi- 

 dents of the state, the amount of analytical work must in many cases be 

 limited. Many inquiries can be answered by correspondence alone when the 

 person seeking information supplies us with complete information concern- 

 ing his problem. 



Seed Inspection 



The regular seed inspection work for the State Department of Agriculture 

 was conducted as usual. During the year, 1,773 samples were handled in the 

 laboratory. Of this number 643 were collected by the seed inspectors and 

 are reported in Station Bulletin 434; 1,130 samples were sent in by seed 

 dealers in compliance with the clause in our seed law which requires that 

 all vegetable and agricultural seed must have been tested for germination 

 within nine months of being offered for sale and therefore, much of this 

 testing was seed carried over from the previous season; a few of these 

 samples were sent in by farmers who had grown beans, corn or squash and 

 wished to sell the seeds from these sources. 



Our laboratory took part in the referee testing of samples sent out to all 

 official seed testing laboratories in United States and Canada. 



Bessie G. Sanborn 



Soil Testing 



During the last fiscal year, residents of the state submitted 3,159 soil 

 samples for analysis of pH values and available nutrients. This work 

 entailed 22,113 determinations. About 200 soil samples from greenhouses 

 were tested for soluble salts. Six peat and muck samples submitted for 

 identification were analyzed for moisture content, organic matter con- 

 tent, and for pH value and suggestions were made as to their commercial 

 value. 



G. P. Percival 



Diagnostic Service Performed at the Poultry Laboratory 



From July 1, 1955, to June 30, 1956, a total of 7,289 specimens of 

 all kinds were submitted to the Poultry Laboratory for diagnosis. These 

 represented 3,043 cases. 



A total of 6,227 chicken specimens, 134 turkeys, and 26 miscellaneous 

 birds were examined. There were 44 cases consisting of 108 specimens 



