12 



REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE. 



size, &c, as influenced by environment. The effect of differences in 

 rainfall and temperature in different seasons produces a greater change 

 in the composition of the grain than peculiarities of soil. 



2. A study of the "Roller Milling Process" for the manufacture of 

 flour, especially with reference to the hard spring wheats of the North- 

 west. The results comprise both a physical and chemical examination, 

 and are of considerable interest. 



3. A series of baking experiments with flours of different grades from 

 all parts of the country. The result of this investigation has been to 

 show that the weight of bread produced from a given weight of flour is 

 almost entirely dependent on the percentage of moisture in the flour 

 rather than upon the quality or the amount of gluten in it. These ex- 

 periments were conducted, primarily, for comparison with those of the 

 McDougal Brothers in England a short time ago, which did not result 

 very favorably for American flours as regards quantity. Our results 

 show a much higher yield than was found abroad. The preceding work 

 has been published in detail in Bulletin No. 4 of this Bureau. 



4. The examination of American dairy products, begun last year, has 

 been continued. Some of the results will be found in the report of the 

 Chemist. 



5. An extended investigation of maple sugars and maple sirups has 

 been completed, showing the presence of numerous spurious or adulter- 

 ated articles in the market. 



6. An investigation of a series of soils from Louisiana and some other 

 parts of the country, with a view to their exhibition at New Orleans at 

 the World's Cotton and Industrial Exposition. 



7. A study of the sugar industry of the country, including experi- 

 ments and practical work with sorghum here and in Indiana, Illinois, 

 "Wisconsin, and Kansas, and an examination of the status of the beet- 

 sugar industry on the Pacific coast. The Department has also estab- 

 lished a laboratory on a plantation in Louisiana for the purpose of 

 making a thorough chemical investigation of the processes there em- 

 ployed in the manufacture of sugar. 



8. The miscellaneous work increases very largely every year, and our 

 facilities are hardly equal to the amount which must be done. Since 

 our last report between two and three hundred analyses of fertilizers, 

 marls, minerals; mineral waters, well waters, ensilages, hay, and other 

 fodders, have been completed, in addition to our regular work. The 

 consideration of the advisability of erecting a building suitable for the 

 use of the Bureau cannot, in view of these facts, be long delayed. 



BUREAU OF ENTOMOLOGY. 



The work of this Bureau continues in its various lines of usefulness, 

 and attracts increasing attention from all parts of the country. The 

 various investigations previously inaugurated have been continued 

 where not already completed, while others have been instituted and 



