18 N. H. AGR. EXPERIMENT STATION. [Bulletin 163 



weekly or yearly tests of their animals under the rules of their respective 

 associations. Since the issuing of the last biennial Report, the following 

 tests have been completed: 60 Holstein, 21 Ayrshires, 4 Guernseys, and 14 

 Jerseys, a total of 99 as compared with a total of 74 for the two previous years. 



Execution of Dairy Laws (Act of 1901). 



The act demands that any person who operates the Babcock test, or any 

 other test, for determining the butter- fat or solids in milk and cream, as a basis 

 for apportioning the value of same, must hold a certificate from the proper 

 Station official showing the holder competent and well qualified to perform 

 such work. The law further provides that all glassware used in connection 

 with the testing must be tested for accuracy of graduations. 



During the last two years fifty- eight candidates have been examined and 

 granted milk-testing certificates. 



Seventeen hundred and eighty-two pieces of glassware were examined for 

 accuracy of graduation of which eight pieces were inaccurate or defective. 



There are many problems both along the line of the production and handling 

 of milk as well as in the manufacturing of dairy products, the investi- 

 gating of which would be of benefit to the dairymen in the State. 



At the present time the bacteriology laboratories in the Dairy Department 

 are being equipped and it is expected that by another year this department 

 will again be connected with the Experiment Station. 



REPORT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF 

 CHEMISTRY. 



B. E. CURRY. 



The department has carried on investigations along the following lines 

 since the last report: 



(a) Soil Potash Work. 



(b) Grass Production. 



(c) Lime Requirements for New Hampshire Soils. 



To date the following brief statements show the results obtained in the soil 

 potash work: 



1. A large amount of potassium fertilizer is not used profitably at the present 

 time. 



2. New Hampshire soils are rich in potassium and naturally adapted to the 

 production of hay. 



3. The soil potassium is present as clay and in mineral form. 



4. The soils remove large quantities of potassium from solution under both 

 laboratory and field conditions. 



5. When potassium phosphate reacts with the soils no new soluble salts 

 appear in solution. 



