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XXI. — Quarterly Reports of the Chemical Committee, 1881. 
March, 1881. 
In presenting the following Quarterly Report on cases which 
the Consulting Chemist has brought before them, the Chemical 
Committee wish once more to draw the attention of the Council 
to the difficulty which they experience in obtaining from 
members of the Society the names of the makers and vendors of 
inferior or adulterated manures and feeding stuffs. Too many 
members seem to be of opinion that the Reports of the Chemical 
Committee are issued to enable them to obtain a reduction of 
price by means of a threat to send the names of the vendors to 
the Society for publication. The Committee desire to make it 
known that their publishing cases in the Quarterly Reports is 
to show members of the Society the danger of purchasing 
manures and feeding stuffs under indefinite names, and without 
guaranteed analysis ; and that they do not attempt to screen any 
member from the result of his own disregard of their recom- 
mendation to buy under definite names, and with a guaranteed 
analysis. 
Dr. Voelcker reported the following cases : — 
1. A sample of linseed-cake sent by Mr. Charles Clarke, 
Ashby-de-la-Launde, Sleaford, on analysis showed the following 
composition : — 
Moisture 14 • 99 
Oil 10-60 
* Albuminous compounds 23-81 
Mucilage, starch, and digestible fibre .. .. 32-87 
Woody fibre (cellulose) 11-33 
fMineral matter (ash) 6-40 
100-00 
* Containing nitrogen .. .. .' 3-81 
t Containing sand 1-99 
This cake, it will be seen, is poor in albuminos compounds, 
and it contained starchy matter, which should not be present in 
pure linseed-cake. 
In reply to the usual inquiries, Mr. Clarke wrote as follows : — 
" Ashby-de-la-Launde, Sleaford, February 24th, 1881. 
"DEiE Sir, — In answer to your letter and wishes, I beg to say I would 
rather not disclose the name of the firm I bought the cakes of, as 1 have had 
several lots before analysed which proved that I was getting a fair cake, and I 
really did get a letter from the gentleman concerned in the making of the cakes 
you analysed, which proved that I had just cause to complain, ' and so the 
matter dropped.' I shall be sending you another sample or two soon. — Yours 
very truly, 
" Charles Clarke." 
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