Qtiarterhj Report of the Ghemioal Committee, Jtme, 1891. 399 
delivery, was found to contain 3-10 per cent, of sand. A five-ton lot 
had been purchased on a basis of " 95 per cent, purity." 
In reply to inquiries for further particulars, Mr. Brown wrote 
that the merchant was a young man of business, and he would be 
sorry to cause him any injury, but he had come to the conclusion 
not to purchase anything of him in future. 
2. Mr. G. C. Robertson, of Widmerpool, Nottingham, forwarded 
for analysis on March 31, 1591, a sample of linseed-cake of which 
two tons had been purchased from Messrs. Wright Bros. & Co., of 
Hull (who are also the manufacturers), at 8^. per ton, carriage paid. 
The order ran as follows : — 
"Messrs. Wright — Two tons, Pure, 1)5 per cent. Linseed-cake." 
The words on the invoice were : — 
" Two tons 95 per cent. Linseed-cakes @ 8Z. = lU." 
The report on this sample was : — ■ 
Moisture ........ 
Oil 
' Albuminous compounds (flesh-forming matters) 
Mucilage, sugar, and digestible fibre 
Woody fibre (cellulose) ..... 
- Mineral matter (ash) 
' Containing nitrogen .... 
^ Including sand 
The cake is not pure ; it has a considerable amount of foreign seeds, 
among which spurry and platykop are most prominent, and rape is there 
also. The cake is made from seed not properly cleaned. 
Upon Mr. Robertson complaining, the following reply was re- 
ceived from the vendors : — 
G. C. Kobertson, Esq., 
Widmerpool, Nottingham. April 24, 1891. 
Sir,— We thank you for your favour of 22nd inst., with extract from a 
report of Dr. Voelcker on the cake we last sent you. The linseed we use 
for our 95 per cent, cakes (for we suppose you refer to the linseed cakes) is 
bought with a guarantee that it shall contain not less than 95 per cent, of 
pure linseed, according to the London Linseed Association's certificate of 
analysis of samples taken during discharge here by independent parties. 
If, as is the fact, our cakes are made solely of such seed, we fully comply 
with the guarantee we give ; not, indeed, of absolute purity, which is well- 
nigh impossible, but of a percentage of 95 of purity, which is considered 
by practical men all that is reasonable. It is therefore immaterial to us 
what Dr. Voelcker may allege to the contrary, except that such reports are 
calculated to cause prejudice in the minds of consumers, though, at the 
same time, they no doubt suggest (perhaps unintentionally) the need there 
is that the watchfulness of the agricultural chemists should never be relaxed 
April 0, 1891. 
10-65 
27-66 
36-14 
7-25 
6-60 
100-00 
4-41 
1-45 
