52 HATCH EXPEKIMENT STATION. [Jan. 



(c) Chemical Investigation. 



It is the aim of this division to devote as much attention 

 as possible to chemical investigation, in connection with the 

 many dairy and feeding problems. The very limited time 

 at our disposal the past year has been given : [a) to the 

 examination of butter fat in connection with feeding experi- 

 ments, to note the effect of various feed constituents upon 

 its character; {h) to the improvement of methods for the 

 determination of the pentosans and starch in feed stulfs ; 

 and (c) to the determination of the availability of organic 

 nitrogen in fertilizing materials. An inquiry was also con- 

 ducted to ascertain the effect of two different milk-condensing 

 processes on the nitrogenous bodies of milk. 



A great deal of time has also been given to chemical work 

 in connection with the various feeding and dairy experiments. 

 Some of the experiments, being completed, are reported in 

 Part n., while others are still in progress. 



D. Cattle Feed Inspection. 

 During the past year only one complete canvass of the 

 State has been made for the purpose of collecting samples 

 of concentrated feeds ; heretofore, at least two inspections 

 were made yearly. More work had been done, however, 

 along this line in the past than the small amount of money 

 available under the law would admit ; hence the necessary 

 curtailment. The results of the samples collected and ex- 

 amined for 1901 were published in Bulletin No. 78, of which 

 9,000 copies were issued. A quite thorough inspection was 

 made in October and November, 1902, and the feeds are 

 now undergoing a chemical and microscopic examination. 

 It may be said that, owing to the unusually open autumn, 

 and because of the expectation that with the advent of new 

 corn the prices of feeds would generally reach a lower level, 

 dealers were carrying light stocks. Little new cotton-seed 

 meal had arrived, and the various gluten products were in 

 light supply. West of the Connecticut River very little 

 material, excepting wheat feeds, was found. As soon as the 

 weather becomes colder, and especially after the new crop 



