


375 
cent. solution of each. For this reason it will] not be neces- 
sary to repeat this with each method. For convenience in 
tabulating I have used letters to designate methods and 
variations. 
Method A. 
The process employed at this Station has been fully de- 
scribed by Dr. Babcock in a former report® and in brief is 
as follows : 
A half litre Erlenmyer flask is used and to the substance 
is added 200 c.c. acid solution, boil for one-half hour, filter 
through an asbestos filter (made by putting a platinum 
cone in a funnel, a small quantity of ignited asbestos and 
on this a little asbestos pulp) with aid of filter pump, wash 
thoroughly wilh hot water, transfer residue to flask, boil 
one-half hour with alkali, filter through asbestos filter, wash 
well with hot water, then with alcohol and finally with 
ether, dry at 100, ignite, loss on igniting is termed crude 
fiber. This method takes account of the ash but not of any 
remaining nitrogenous matter. 
Method B. 
‘ Boil for one-half hour with acid, remove from heat, allow /— 
half hour, filter, adding any residue in decantation, return 
to flask, treat the same with alkali, boiling afterwards with 
water, filter, wash well with water, alcohol and ether, dry, 
weigh, ignite, loss is fiber. 
Method C. 
Boil with acid for one-half hour, allow to settle, decant 
liquid, leaving all solids in flask, add 200 cc. water, boil 
one-half hour, allow to settle, decant again, boil with 200 
cc. of water for one-half hour, let settle, decant, leaving 
solids in flask and return any solids that may haye passed 
off in decanting, treat with alkali and water as with acid 
finally filtering, dry and ignite. Here some divide the resj- 
due and determine the nitrogen in one portion and deduct 
the albuminoids found from total crude fiber. This method 
gives a fiber more nearly pure than either of the others 
since it takes account of both ash and any nitrogenous 
matter. There are some slight variations in ‘the details of 
this method by different workers. 
*Second Annual Report, 1883, p. 166. 
25 
a 
to fully settle, decant liquid, add 200 c.c. water, boil one- 
