July, 1933] INSPECTION of feeding stuffs 5 



REQUESTS FOR THE ANALYSIS OF FEEDING 

 STUFFS BY INDIVIDUALS 



Under the Feeding Stuffs Law the Agricultural Experi- 

 ment 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 only attest 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 com- 

 position 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 several ingredients gluten meal 

 averaging 40% protein, and as another ingredient oat feed 

 averaging 5% protein. These materials are so different in 

 physical condition that the shaking in transit tends to sepa- 

 rate 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 re- 

 quires 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 be 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 

 in a manner which will insure that the small lot sent for 

 analysis is as accurately representative as possible of the 



