1921.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. 31. 53 a 



Soil. — Progress has been made in the study of microbial 

 changes of organic matter of the* soil. A step in the investiga- 

 tion of the problem, carbon dioxide determination (started in 

 connection with Mr. L. C. Whitaker, who resigned July 1), has 

 been developed and is now ready for publication. The study 

 of the microbial decomposition of cellulose has been started 

 in association with ]\Ir. J. R. Sanborn. 



Miscellaneous Work. — The analytical work of the depart- 

 ment may be summed as follows: — 



Bacterial counts on milk samples, 815 



Water samples tested, 12 



Medical specimens, 125 



Legume cultures to the number of 209 were distributed. 



