VEGETABLE PHYSIOLOGY AND AGRlCULTURE. 43 Chemistry of Vegetable Physiology and Agriculture. Oxidation of Hydrogen by Bacteria. A. J. NABOKICH and A. F. LEBEDEFF (Centr. Bakt. YCCT. 1906 ii 17 350-355).-The results of several experiments with Russian black soils (Odessa) and Polish soil showed that hydrogen is oxidised by autotrophic rod bacteria (compare Kaserer Abstr. 1906 ii 113 ; and Immendorff ibid. 1892 3i4). N. H. J M. Formation of Arabin by Bacteria and their Relation to the Gum of the Amygdaleae. W. RUELAND (Chern. Centr. 1906 ii 1345 ; from Ber. deut. bot. Ges. 24 393-401).-Cultivations of Bacillus spongiosus on sucrose give rise to production of mucus; a similar result was obtained with raffinose but the time required was longer. With mannitol the production of mucus was very slight whilst with dextrose and lsevulose there was none at all.The gum of the mucus was pure arabin without galactin hemicellulose or nitro- genous matter. It was shown previously that the bacillus (obtained from diseased44 ABSTRACTS OF CHEMICAL PAPERS. cherry shoots) causes a flow of gum when cherry trees are inoculated with i t and that.the gum is a mixture of arabin and galactin. N. H. J. M. Formation of Free Oxalic Acid by Aspergillus Niger. CARL WEHMER (Chem. Cent?*. 1906 ii 1348; from Ber. deut. 60t. Ges. 24 381-384).-1n former experiments an abundant production of oxalic acid by AspergiZZus niger was always observed whilst subsequent experiments gave negative results. New experiments have confirmed the results first obtained ; the later negative results were perhaps due t o impurities in the calcium carbonate.N. H. J. M. Causes of the Formation of Aldehyde in Wines and the Amounts in some Tuscan W-ines. NAPOLEONE PASSERINI (Chem. Ceqhtr. 1906 ii 1280-1281 ; from Stax. sper. ugrur. ital. 39 221-240).-Tuscan wines (62) were found to contain from 1 to 60 mg. of aldehyde per litre. The amount is generally higher in wines containing much alcohol than in those with low amounts of alcohol and white wines generally contain more than red wines. The amount seems to increase with the age of the wine. Aldehyde is produced by aerobic ferments (Mycoderma vini and Permenturn aceticum) but not by anaerobic microbes. N. H. J. M. Formation of Fuse1 Oil by Yeast. FELIX EHRLICH (Ber. 1906 39 4072-4075. Compare Pringsbeim Abstr.1906 ii 880).-Fuse1 oil is not formed by the action of acetone-yeast (Albert Buchner and Rnpp Abstr. 1902 ii 521) on sugar alone or in presence of d-leucine which remains unchanged. G. Y. Influence of the Chemical Constitution of the Nitrogenous Food Material on the Fermenting Power of Yeast. HANS PRINGSHEIM (Bey. 1906 39 4048-4055).-Yeast which has been grown in a medium free from sugar but containing other carbon compounds and suitable nitrogenous food will induce alcoholic fermentation when brought into a solution containing sugar. Suitable nitrogenous compounds are those containing the grouping *NH* CH CO* such as glycine alanine leucine tyrosine and aspartic acid also phenylglycine allantoin phenylalanine and hippuric acid. The compounds with the longer side chains for example propionic acid derivatives react more readily than acetic acid derivatives.Guanine and uric acid which contain the grouping *NH*C*CO* may be used and also ammonia. Yeast will grow in a lo"/ sucrose solution containing small amounts of potassium hydrogen phosphate magnesium sulphate traces of common salt and ferrous sulphate and certain nitrogenous sub- stances without inducing alcoholic fermentation. Such nitrogen compounds are sulphnnilic acid metanilic acid naphthionic acid aniline and its salts benzamide benzy lamine acetamide acetanilide met hylaniline diphenylamine dimethylaniline hydrochloride andVEGETABLE PHYSIOLOGY AND AGRICULTURE. 45 pyridine. The addition of a compound containing the group *NH*CH*CO* t o such an inactive solution readily starts alcoholic fermentation.J. J. S. Mutual Effect of Nicotiana Tabacum and N. afflnis in Graft- ing. VIKTOR GRAFE and K. LINSBAUER (Chem. Centr. 1906 ii 1276; from Ber. deut. bot. Ges. 24 366-371).-When a variety of tobacco containing nicot-ine is grafted on to one containing little or no nicotine (Nicotiana aflnis) or vice z;ersd the leaves of the vaiiety wbich in ordinary circumstances contains very little nicotine mill be found to contain relatively large amounts. N. H. J. M. [Cyanogenesis] in Plants Growing in Belgium. P. FITSCHY (Bull. Acad. roy. BeZg. 1906 613-617).-Smsll quantities of hydro- cyanic acid have been obtained by macerating the following plants previously ground in water Ranunculus repens R. arvensis Gyneriuna ccrgeqzteum Melica altissinaa M.nutans M. unajfora M. ciliata. I n R. repens G. argenteum M. altissima a cyanogenetic glucoside appears to be present which is decomposed by sweet almond emulsion. T. A. H. Occurrence of Vanillin. EDMUND 0. YON LIPPMANN (Ber. 1906 39 4147).-Vanillin may be obtained from dahlia bulbs. A. McK. Chemistry of the Scleroderms. 11. Scleroderma auran- tium (S. vulgare). MAX BAMBERGER and ANTON LANDSIEDL (Monutsh. 1906 27 963-967. Compare Abstr. 1905 ii 852).- Ripe specimens of Xcberodernaa uurnntium from the neighbourhood of Graz were dried and the peridium and hymenium investigated separately. The light petroleum extract of the peridium yields two crystalline substances. The substunce C,,H,,O crystallises from chloroform on cooling or from a mixture of chloroform and acetone in transparent rectangular plates m.p. 183.5’ in an open or 188’ in a closed capillary tube ; with Liebermann-Burchard’s reaction the aqueous emulsion is orange-yellow and becomes green red and finally yellow whilst the chloroform solution is orange-yellow and changes through rose and lilac to blue; Liebermann’s reaction gives similar colour changes. The substance C H3402 obtained from the chloroform filtrate from the preceding substance crystallises from a mixture of acetone and alcohol in stout hexagonal plates or from ether in thin needles m. p. 196-197O in a closed capillary tube; this gives with Lieber- mann’s and Liebermann-Burchard’s reactions colour changes similar to those described above. The peridium contains also large amounts of mannitol which is found only in small quantities in the hymenium.The hymenium yields small amounts of substances which give colour changes resembling those of ergosterol. G. Y.46 ABSTRACTS OF CHEMICAL PAPERS. Investigations on the Properties of Wheat Proteids. JOSEPH S. CHAMBERLAIN (J. Amer. Chena. Soc. 1906 28 1657-1667)- Osborne and Voorhees (Abstr. 1893 i 741) have stated that wheat contains five proteids namely gliadin glutenin an albumin a globulin and a proteose. The gliadin and glutenin together con- stitute about SO-SS0/ of the total proteids ; the former is soluble in 70% alcohol whilst the latter is insoluble. The three other proteids are soluble in dilute salt solutions. It is now found that on extracting air-dry wheat or flour with cold 70°/0 alcohol the gliadin is removed together with a large part of the proteids which are soluble in saIt solutions and i t is therefore necessary that a correction should be made for the latter when quantitative separations are attempted.Potassium sulphate solution (5%) eEects the same extraction as sodium chloride solution and has the advantage that the evolution of hydrogen chloride in the Kjeldahl operation is obviated. Dry gluten from wheat flour consists of about 75°/0 of proteids and 25°/0 of non-proteids. Of the total proteids present in the wheat itself about 60-65°/0 are retained in the gluten whilst 35-40°/0 are lost in the washings this loss being at the expense of gliadin or glutenin. For these reasons it is considered that the estimation of gluten is incapable of yielding any information which cannot be obtained by the estimation either of the total proteids or of those which are soluble in alcohol and those which are insoluble.E. G. Nature of the Phosphoric Acid Compounds in Barley and their Changes during Brewing Processes. WILHELM WINDISCH and W. VOGELSANG (Ckem. Cerhtv. 1906 ii 1573 ; from Toch. Brau. 23 5 16-5 19).-Barley does not contain any inorganic phosphate. During germination the organic phosphoric acid compounds are decomposed. The breaking up of the phosphoric acid compounds in malt is attributed to enzyme action. N. H. J. M. Proteids of Barley in the Grain and During the Brewing Process. HENRIK SCHJERNING (Chem. Centr 1906 ii 1209-1 210 ; from Compt. rend. Lab. CccrZsberg 6 229-307).-The amount of proteids in barley grain does not always indicate the quality.The size of the grain seems to some extent to depend on the duration of the growing and ripening period. The transformation of soluble nitrogenous compounds into insoluble substances is more rapid when the period of development is short than the assimilation of nitrogen and the prodtiction of soluble proteids from amides is intensified. Proteoses are exclusively products of the hydrolytic breaking down of higher proteids and any marked amount of proteoses in barley grain is evidence of a very unfavourable crop. Loss of dry matter during storage is unlikely when the conditiors of storage are suitable and when the grain has reached the right degree of ripeness before cropping. The composition of the dry matter of the grain as regards the various groups of nitrogenous substances mineral matter and acid compounds soluble in water is independent of the variety and type ofVEGETABLE PHYSIOLOGY AND AGRICULTURE. 47 barley.Climatic conditions affect the amounts of ash constituents total nitrogen and amides but have less influence on the other nitrogenous constituents the amounts of which depend rather on the degree of ripeness and time of storage. Influence of the Ash Constituents of the Lower Portions of Oat Stems on the Falling of the Stems. D. LIENAU and ALBERT STUTZER (Landui. Vemuchs-#tat. 1506,65 253-263. Compare Lienau Inaug. Diss. Konigsberg 1903).-According to Wieler (Bot. Zeit. 1889 32) and Wolff (Prakt. Diingerlehre? 1886,158) phosphoric acid has the effect of strengthening straw whilst much nitrogen and potassium cause softening ; Guffroy (J.d’dgric. prat. 1901 i 65) found that the cell-walls become thin under the influence of nitrogen whilst phosphoric acid has the opposite effect. The results of anatomical and chemical investigations with oat straw grown on variously manured plots showed that phosphoric acid is the manure which most promotes the thickening of the cell-wall and that its effect is greatly lessened when much potassium or calcium is applied along with it. Large amounts of potassium or nitrogen reduce the thickness of the cell-walls nitrates having more effect than ammonium salts. The amounts of total ash and potassium are increased by manuring with large amounts of potassium nitrogen and calcium whilst phos- phoric acid in many cases reduced the total ash and potassium The amount of phosphoric acid in the straw does not depend on the amount applied as manure but is increased by large applications of potassium calcium and nitrogen.The calcium in the straw is increased by ammonium salts and diminished by phosphoric acid. The amounts of sodium iron and silicon seem to have no relation to the manuring. The thickening of cell-walls is greatest the less the amounts of total ash and potassium. The relations as regards calcium and phosphoric acid remain to be ascertained. Amounts of Potassium and other Important Constituents in Various Grasses. ALBERT STUTZER (Landw. Versuchs-Stat. 1906 65 264-274).-Determinations of dry matter nitrogen potassium calcium .phosphoric acid and silica in a number of grasses grown i n soil in pots without manure with phosphoric acid both alone and in conjunction with potassium and with potassium and nitrogen.The effect of phosphoric acid on the yield was very slight except in the case of Alopecurws pratensis Avena javescens and Aiathoxantum odoraturn. The grasses were able to assimilate considerable amounts of potass- ium although the soil contained very little soluble in cold hydro- chloric acid. The greatest amount was taken up by Dactylis glomerata which with Phalai-is umndinacea also acquired the greatest amount -of nitrogen (from the unmanured plot). The amounts of calcium are small as compared with potassium and Pot Experiments with Soils Containing Copper.ALBERT STUTZER (Landw. Versuchs-Stat. 1906 65 285-288).-TrifoZizcm N. H. J. M. N. H. J. M. nitrogen. N. H. J. M;48 ABSTRACTS OF CHEMICAL PAPERS pannorticum was grown in pots containing 10 kilos. of a mixture of sand and garden soil with addition of calcium carbonate (100 grams) and mineral manures. Two pots received finely-powdered copper (10 grams and 1 gram) two the same amounts of powdered copper oxide and two no copper. No injury was observed except in the case of the pot which had 10 grams of copper oxide; the plants of this pot failed in part and those which grew at all remained small. No copper could be detected in any of the plants or roots. It is therefore doubtful whether TgifoZiurn pannonicum is a plant which takes up relatively large amounts of copper as has been stated.Soil which contains much copper is to be regarded as permanently sterile. N. H . J. Iul. Nitrogenous Nutrition of Agricultural Plants. E. WEIN (Chem. Centr. 1906 ii 1454; from Verh. Ges. Deut. Naturf. k’rxte 1905 ii 11 9-123).-The results of field experiments showed that calcium cyanamide is a t least equal in value to ammonium sulphate. On peat soil containing much calcium carbonate both calcium cyanamide and sodium nitrate gave good results whilst ammonium sulphate caused a diminished yield. N. H. J. M. Pot Experiments on the Action of Calcium Cyanamide. ALBERT STUTZER (Landw. VersuclwStut. 1906 65 275-282).-Pot experiments are described in which rye was manured with calcium cyanamide ammonium sulphate and sodium nitrate respectively.Subsequently mustard was grown three times in the same pots without further manuring. When the amount of nitrogen applied was 0.5 gram per pot (16 kilos. of soil) 68*4°/0 of the ammonia nitrogen was recovered in the plants 65*9’/ of the calcium cyanamide and 55-2’/ of the nitrate. The last result is attributed to loss of nitrogen in the winter the sodium nitrate having been applied in the autumn. N. H. J. M. Employment of Thiocg anates as Manure. RENATO PEROTTI (Chem. Centr. 1906 ii 1282 ; from- Stux. sper. ugrar. itaZ. 39 193-21 2).-The manure ‘‘ sulphocyanide ” contains total N 5.06 ; N as ammonia 1.66; K 2.28; Ca 1-73 ; P,O 0.8 ; SO 2.01 ; total S 23*89’/,. It contains about 4.5’1 of ammonium thiocyanate but no potassium thiocyanate. It is nearly completely and fairly quickly decomposed in the soil without loss. N. H. J. M. Action of Wolter’s Phosphate. ALBERT STUTZER (Lundw. Versuchs-Stat. 1906 65 283 -284).-Pot experiments with hemp manured with equal amounts of phosphoric acid in the forms of superphosphate and Wolter’s phosphate showed that the two manures are about equal. N. H. J. M. Amount of Chlorine in Rain Water. WILLEM P. JORISSEN (Chern. Cmtr. 1906 ii 1579; from Chem. WeekbZud 3 647-649. Compare Abstr. 1906 ii 486).-As the result of 154 more analysesANALYTLCAL CHEMISTRY. 49 of rain water if is found that the average amount of chlorine is 32.5 mg. per litre. The author also quotes analyses of 121 samples of rain water collected in casks. P. H.