248 Annual Report for 1906' of the Consulting Chemist. 
special kind of oatmeal. The former cost 6/. 5s. per ton, and 
was free from impurity. It had, however, a somewhat insipid 
taste, and, considering the analysis, it is questionable whether 
it is any improvement on maize itself, at the respective prices. 
The “ oat siftings ” at 31. 15s. per ton must be considered 
excessively dear, and the material, indeed, is of very question- 
able feeding value. 
Maize germ 
Oat 
cake 
siftings 
Moisture ...... 
9-32 
8*63 
Oil 
6-71 
3*09 
Albuminous compounds (flesh-forming 
matters) ...... 
14*19 
7*37 
Mucilage, sugar, and digestible fibre 
61*17 
49*84 
Woody fibre (cellulose) 
3*92 
25*71 
2 Mineral matter (ash) .... 
4*69 
5*36 
100*00 
100*00 
Containing nitrogen . . . . 
2*27 
1*18 
2 Including sand and silica 
0*05 
3*72 
B. Fertilisers. 
Of the ordinary fertilisers, such as mineral superphosphate, 
dissolved bones, basic slag, nitrate of soda, kainit, &c., it> may 
be said generally that the trade in them has been very satisfac- 
tory, leaving the farmer very little to complain of. Mineral 
superphosphate of as high a grade as 35 per cent. “ soluble 
phosphate” has come largely into use, through the employment 
of raw phosphate of high grade and capable of easy working ; 
and, though the quality has increased, the price is relatively 
lower to the purchaser than it used to be. Basic slag has, with 
few exceptions, been found to come up to the requirements 
of the guarantees given. No instances have been met with 
of adulteration of nitrate of soda, sulphate of ammonia, or 
kainit. Altogether, as regards the supply to the farmer of the 
ordinary staple manures of the farm, it may be said, in fairness 
to the trade, that there is but little cause for the intervention 
of a new Fertilisers and Feeding Stuffs Act. 
It will, therefore, be only necessary for me to note briefly 
any special cases that have occurred, and to mention any new 
materials that have come forward. 
1. Peruvian Guano ( Phosphatic ). 
An excellent sample of the more phosphatic kind of 
Peruvian guano, such as is suitable for root-growing or in 
hop and fruit gardens, was the following : — 
