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XX. — Annual Report of the Consulting Chemist for 1880. 
Considering the depressed condition of ICnglish Agriculture, I 
scarcely expected that so large a number of samples as last year, 
when as many as 1018 were analysed in the Society's Labora- 
tory, would be received for examination in 1880. Contrary to 
my expectation, however, so far from declining, the number of 
samples analysed for members of the Society and reported upon 
has increased 20 per cent., and actually reached in 1880 the 
laree number of 1201. This number exceeds that of the ana- 
lyses made for members of the Society in the preceding year 
by 183, and that terminating 1st December, 1878, by 477. 
The following return for the last four years shows the con- 
tinued, and during the last two years rapid, increase of the 
analytical work done for members of the Royal Agricultural 
Society. 
In 1877 the number of samples sent for analj'sis amounted to 642 
„ 1878 „ „ „ „ 724 
„ 1879 „ „ „ „ 1018 
„ 1880 „ „ „ „ 1201 
In comparison with 1877, nearly twice as many samples were 
analysed in the Society's Laboratory in 1880. 
The large increase, as will be seen by the appended summary, 
is principally attributable to the many feeding-cakes and meals 
and artificial manures which were received in 1880. About 
the same number of guanos were received as in the preceding 
year, but only 16 samples of nitrate of soda in place of 65 sent 
in 1879. The reason why comparatively few samples of nitrate 
of soda were sent was, no doubt, the abnormally high price 
which nitrate of soda commanded in the manure-market last 
season, a price which greatly impeded its use for agricultural 
purposes. 
Most of the samples of nitrate were genuine, and fully up 
to the guaranteed percentage of 95 to 96 of pure nitrate. One 
sample, however, on examination was found to be nothing more 
or less than sulphate of soda, or Glauber salt, and contained no 
nitrate whatever. 
As many as 92 waters were analysed by me in 1880, or 40 
more than in the preceding year. Amongst them not a few were 
found totally unfit for drinking purposes, and in two or three 
cases the injury sustained by horses and cattle could be clearly 
traced to the foul condition of the water with which they were 
supplied. 
In many rural districts the water-supply, I regret to say, is 
still very defective. 
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