July, 1936 ] 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 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 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 in-- 

 gredient oat feed averaging five per cent protein. 

 These materials are so different in physical con- 

 dition 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 repre- 

 sentative 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 u^. official 

 sample. 



