July, 1939) INSPECTION OF FEEDING STUFFS 9 



REQUESTS FOR THE ANALYSIS OF FEEDING 

 STUFFS BY INDIVIDUALS 



Under the feeding stuffs law the Agricultural Experiment 

 Station is charged only with the analysis of samples of feeding 

 stuffs collected by the State Inspector under the direction of 

 the Commissioner of Agriculture. It does, however, each 

 year analyze a considerable number of samples drawn by 

 individuals representing stock purchased by them for their 

 own use. The object of the purchaser who asks to have the 

 sample analyzed is usually to satisfy himself whether the 

 feed meets its guarantee and if it does not. to obtain evidence 

 upon which to base a claim for shortage. 



The Station can assume no responsibility for the sampling 

 of these unofficial samples but can attest only the accuracy 

 of the analysis of the sample as submitted. It is practically 

 impossible to secure a representative sample of a feeding stuff 

 composed of several ingredients varying widely in composition 

 without the aid of a sampling tube for drawing the sample 

 and proper equipment for mixing it. A feed may contain as 

 one of its ingredients gluten meal averaging 40 per cent 

 protein, and as another ingredient oat feed averaging five per 

 cent protein. These materials are so different in physical 

 condition that the shaking in transit tends to separate them 

 even though they may have been perfectly mixed by the 

 manufacturer before bagging. It is apparent that an accurate 

 sample of a ton of this feed can only be had by drawing a core 

 from several bags. The official method requires ten. Since 

 a representative sample is as essential as an accurate analysis 

 in judging the value of a shipment of feed, it is evident that a 

 satisfactory adjustment can seldom be effected on the basis 

 of an unofficial sample. 



Notwithstanding the objections which may l)e raised to 

 the analysis of samples taken without proper sampling equip- 

 ment, the Station is disposed to continue this work as long as 

 there is evidence that it constitutes a useful service. The 

 samples so submitted should be drawn from at least ten bags 



