1902. J 



PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. 33. 



105 



Following is a list of materials received during the past 

 season, which shows the great variety of substances which 

 are used and valued for manurial purposes, as well as the 

 great variety of work necessarily employed to keep in 

 close touch with the critical examination of this class of 

 materials : — 



Under the division of general work in the chemical lab- 

 oratory may also be classed investigations along various 

 lines which are constantly being carried on, such as : a study 

 of the physical and chemical conditions of soil, and their 

 relation to the solubility of different substances applied for 

 fertilizing purposes ; investigations of the availability of 

 the different elements of plant food in the soil ; new and 

 improved methods for the ash analysis of plants ; critical 

 examination of methods of analysis of insecticides and 

 fungicides found in our market ; ammonia absorption tests, 

 to determine the most efficient chemical to be used as a fixer 



