( 330 ) 
XII. — Annual Report of the Consulting Chemist for 1884. 
I AM pleased to be able to report to the Chemical Committee 
that since the issue of the last Annual Report the progress then 
reported in the analytical work, conducted in the Society's 
Laboratory under my direction, has been not only maintained 
but largely increased. From 1453, the number of samples 
analysed for Members of the Society in 1883, the total for the 
present year has risen to 1628, an increase of 175, and much 
exceeding any total reached in previous years. In addition to 
the ordinary analyses, my investigations upon the Chemistry of 
Ensilage have also occupied a considerable amount of time and 
analytical work in the Laboratory. 
As compared with last year, the number of samples of feeding- 
cakes analysed remains about the same ; that of ordinary 
artificial manures, such as superphosphate, &c., is considerably 
increased ; while other items which contribute to the increased 
total are waters, manure-cakes, fish-manures, and nitrates of 
soda. The chief decrease is in the case of soils. The com- 
plete list is given in detail on page 337. 
Linseed-cakes. — The use of hard-pressed American cakes, to 
which I drew attention in my last Annual Report, has, on 
account of the lower prices at which they are offered, very much 
increased. These cakes, though poor in oil, I have found 
almost universally to be made from very pure and clean seed, 
and in this respect are much more to be depended upon than 
those of English make. There has been a decided improvement 
in the purity of the latter kind during the year, due, I believe, 
in great measure to the attention drawn to this point in the 
Reports of the Chemical Committee of the Society. American 
linseed-cakes selling at 8Z. to 8Z. 10s. per ton seldom contain 
as much as 9 per cent, of oil, and frequently less than 8 per 
cent. ; and despite the large use made of American cakes, there 
seems to be a good demand for high-class linseed-cakes. As 
instances, I append the following : — 
Analyses of High Class Puke Linseed-cakes. 
No. 1. 
No. 2. 
No. 3. 
No. 4. 
Oil 
Mucilage, sugar, and digestible fibre .. 
12- 21 
13- 93 
29 -OG 
28-65 
9-40 
6-75 
12- 33 
13- 23 
30-31 
27-51 
11-53 
5-09 
9:33 
15-63 
28- 25 
29- 24 
9-97 
7-58 
0-34 
12-37 
28-12 
34-63 
7- 30 
8- 24 
100-00 
100-00 
100-00 
100-00 
4-05 
4-85 
4-52 
4-50 
