Aug., 1931] INSPECTION OF FEEDING STUFFS 5 



REQUESTS FOR THE ANALYSIS OF FEEDING STUFFS 



BY INDIVIDUALS. 



Under the Feeding Stuffs Law the Agricuhural 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 as to whether or not 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 only vouch for the accuracy 

 of the results obtained on the sample as submitted. With certain 

 feeding stuffs it is practically impossible to take a representative 

 sample without the aid of a sampling tube and other equipment. 

 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 th^ 

 basis of an unofficial sample. 



Nothwithstanding the objections which may be raised to the 

 analysis of samples taken without proper sampling equipment, 

 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 in a manner 

 which will insure that the small lot sent for analysis is as ac- 

 curately representative as possible of the larger lot from which 

 it is taken. Because of the cost of labor and materials an 

 analysis is not usually warranted on a sample drawn from less 

 than a one ton lot of feed. 



