No. 4.] GERMAN EXPERIMENT STATIONS. 387 



what we produce, whether it is flesh, fat or water. The scale 

 tells us whether an animal increases or decreases in weight ; 

 but, in case of an increase, whether that animal is putting 

 on lean meat or fat, or storing up a very watery beef, it 

 gives us no insight. For example, experiments with the 

 respirations apparatus have shown that an animal may for 

 weeks be gaining constantly in fat, and still the scale not 

 show an increase, in that water was being displaced and fat 

 put on in its place. I think you Avill agree with me, gentle- 

 men, in saying that it will be greatly to the advantage of the 

 farmer, and to mankind in general, when we know more 

 about the laws that govern the growth and nutrition of the 

 live stock of the farm. 



B. The Halle Experiment Station. 



The agricultural experiment station of the Agricultural 

 Society of the Province of Saxony was moved in 1868 from 

 Salzmiinde to Halle, and is at present under the direction of 

 Prof. M. Maercker, who is also professor in the University 

 of Halle. This station has also a branch at Maodeburo;, 

 established in 1889. Its work can be summed up as fol- 

 lows : — 



1. AVork in the chemical laboratory, in the examination 

 of fertilizers, fodders, soils and general agricultural analysis. 



2. AVork in the botanical laboratory, in the examination 

 of seeds, fodders, study of plant diseases, etc. 



3. Investiuations concerning suo'ar-beet culture and 

 alcohol manufacture. 



4. Feeding experiments with animals. 



5. Field experiments with various agricultural plants. 



6. Investigations into the growth and food requirements 

 of agricultural plants by means of pot experiments. 



In order that we may understand to what an extent the 

 work in the chemical laboratory is carried on I present here 

 the numl)er of analyses made in the years 1888, 1889, 1890 

 and 1891: — 



