1919.1 PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. 31. 27 a 



DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY. 



J. B. LINDSEY. 



It is customary to outline briefly the work accomplished and 

 in progress in this department each year. The following report 

 is presented for 1918. 



1. Research Section. 



Work on the chemistry of butter fat has been continued. A 

 study of the composition of the fat produced by four cows has 

 been partially completed, and further studies along the same 

 line are in progress to ascertain the limits of variation during 

 different stages of lactation. 



Considerable time has been devoted to preparation of work 

 for publication, and two articles have appeared in the ''Journal 

 of Agricultural Research," one relating to improved methods by 

 esterification for the determination of caproic, caprylic, capric, 

 lauric and myristic acids, and another on the influence of air, 

 light and moisture on the stability of olive oil. The observa- 

 tions on the latter subject have covered a period of six years. 



In co-operation with the department of entomology, a pure 

 crystalline acid calcium arsenate (CaHAs04.H20) was pre- 

 pared in quantity, and has been employed in experimental 

 work. A description of the method of preparation has been 

 published in the "Journal of Economic Entomology." 



A study of the comparative effects of sulfate and muriate of 

 potash on the soil of Field B has been completed, and has 

 resulted in the finding of no appreciable differences in the 

 chemical properties of the two different fertilizer plots. 



A preliminary study has been undertaken of the changes 

 which occur when cranberries are stored. It has been found 

 that the sugars were the principal group of constituents affected, 



