1915.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT — Xo. 31. 43 a 



REPORT OF THE CHEMIST. 



JOSEPH B. LINDSEY. 



1. WoEK OF Investigation. 



Mr. Holland and Mr. Buckley have continued their studies 

 on the chemistry of butter fat. A method has been j)erfected 

 for determining monohydroxy acids and dihydroxy acids and 

 their glycerides. This method was published in detail in Bulle- 

 tin No, 151 of the station. 



A modification of the Hehner and Mitchell method has been 

 made for determining the amount of stearic acid in the insoluble 

 acids of butter fat. The stearic acid is determined by crystal- 

 lization from a supersaturated solution of alcohol and stearic 

 acid at approximately 0° C. It involves the use of a jacketed 

 tank of ice and water with stirring apparatus, supersedes the 

 earlier method in which alcohol and stearic acid were used with- 

 out agitation, and yields a much larger amount of stearic acid 

 in case of butter. 



A method has been practically completed for the determina- 

 tion of unsaponifiable matter of oils and fats by continuous ex- 

 traction of the saponified product after drying. 



The fifth year of the stability test with olive oil is approach- 

 ing completion and the results will be brought together for pub- 

 lication within a short time. 



The new method for stearic acid is bound to prove very helpful 

 in enabling us to determine, with a greater degTee of accuracy, 

 the chemical composition of the insoluble acids of butter fat. 



Mr. Morse and Mr. Ruprecht have continued their work in 

 investigating the chemistry of asparagus and the effect of fer- 

 tilizers in modifying the character of the asparagus plant. The 

 actual fertilizer eifect on proportionate composition has been 

 found to be slight, being most marked in case of the nitrogen 

 and potassium contents. 



