402 Summary of Agricultural Experiments, [aug., 



and found to contain considerable quantities of gypsum, but 

 as the circumstances in which the samples were obtained were 

 such that proceedings could be instituted under the Fertilisers 

 and Feeding Stuffs Act, it was thought better to rely on that 

 Act instead of proceeding under the Merchandise Marks Acts. 

 Further consignments were found to contain 20 per cent, and 

 15 per cent, of gypsum, respectively. Proceedings were insti 

 tuted against the trader for having sold for use as food for 

 cattle an article to which there had been added an ingredient 

 worthless for feeding purposes, and not disclosed at the time 

 of sale. He was convicted, and fined ^10 and £6 6s. costs 

 in each of the two cases. 



A similar case occurred in Berkshire where the Official 

 Sampler obtained a sample which was found to consist of 

 about equal parts of finely-ground sawdust and finely- 

 powdered gypsum. The mixture bore some resemblance to 

 shudes, as the sawdust represented the ground husk, and the 

 gypsum took the place of the impalpable powder found in 

 shudes. Proceedings were instituted against the seller for 

 giving a false invoice and for selling as food for cattle an 

 article which contained a deleterious ingredient. The defen- 

 dant was fined ^"20 on each summons, with costs amounting 

 to £24. Two prosecutions on the same lines were instituted 

 in Bucks, and the seller was fined £25 in respect of each 

 consignment, and £j 3s. 3d. costs. A sample of shude meal, 

 sold by a trader to a miller in Bucks, was also found to be a 

 mixture of gypsum and sawdust. The trader was fined £25 

 and £11 145. 6d. costs. 



Cases of sharps containing 25 per cent, of gypsum and of 

 maize germ meal adulterated with 31 per cent, of chalk also 

 occurred during the year. 



Several conferences were held with railway companies, and 

 a number of complaints as to railway rates were brought to 

 their notice with satisfactory results. 



SUMMARY OF AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENTS. 

 Experiments with Potatoes (continued). 



Manuring of Potatoes (Journal of Royal Agricultural Society, Vol. 69, 

 1908). — An experiment was made in 1908 to compare the action of 

 " nitrolim," or calcium cyanamide, with sulphate of ammonia, and with 



