ABSTRACTS OF CKEMtCAL PAPERS. Chemistry of Vegetable Physiology and Agriculture. Influence of Coal Gas on the Growth of Trees. By SP~TH (Landw. Versuchs-Stationen xvi 336-341). and NEYER THE experiments in the Berlin botanical garden (Chem. Xoc. JOWIL. [2] xi 647) on this subject have been continued and the previous results confirmed. .It is also shown that the same quantity of gas applied during the winter has a much less injurious effect than when applied during the period of growth. It was found that when 0.0185 cubic meter (6 cubic feet) of gas were passed daily during the spring into a plot of 14.19 square meters (153 square feet) by 0.785 meter (2* feet) deep on which 17 trees were growing 6 of the trees were dead at the end of seven weeks and after 11 weeks only two were living and these in a sickly state.Lime and elm trees appear to resist the injurious action longest. E. R. Beech Leaves. 137 J. A. WANKLYN (Chemical News xxviii 186). BEECH leaves yield a fragrant decoction and 100 parts of the dry leaves give 20.8 parts of extract which when burned yields 2.4 parts of ash and it was found that this ash contains a notable proportion of man- ganese. The author points out the importance of studying the ashes of leaves as it is by no means improbable that new elements may be thus discovered. T. €3. Tea. By J. A. WAHKLYN (Chemical News xxviii 186). ATTENTION is cdled to the fact that Zoller found 4.38 per cent. of ferric oxide in the ash of genuine tea and in treating of the adultera- tion of tea with iron filings or other preparations of iron it is necessary to bear this in mind.Zoller also found that genuine tea yielded 5.63 per cent. of ash and the analysis of seven samples of airdried com-mercial tea confirmed this result the average amouut of ash being 5.75 per cent. The determination of the total asb soluble ash and insoluble ash of tea will often afford satisfactory evidence of adulteration either with spent tea or with foreign leaves. Two grams are sdcient for the deter- mination. The results of the examination of various leaves are em- bodied in the following table :- VEGETABLE PHYSIOLOGY AND AGRICULTURE. Percentages of Ash in the dried leaves. Total. - Soluble. 1 Insoluble. Common tea.. ..........5 -92 3 -55 2 '37 Paraguay tea ........... Beech ................. 6 -28 4-52 4 *22 2-00 2 -06 2 -52 Bramble ............... 4*53 1*84 2 -69 Raspberry.. ............ Hawthorn.. ............ 'I734 8.05 1'72 3 -78 6 -12 4-27 Willow ................ 9-34 4-16 5 -18 Plum.. ................ 9 -90 5-66 4 *24 Elder.. ................ 10-67 3*19 'I-48 Gooseberry ............ 13.50 ? .83 5 -67 T. B. Micrographic and Chemical Researches on the Textile Fibres of certain Bromeliaceae. By M. SCHLESINGER (J. Phaiw. Chim. [4] xviii 161-167). THEfibres of Billbergia Leopoldi are simple and regular in form ; their walls are parallel and everywhere of the same thickness. A cavity, which is nearly always less than half the diameter of the cellule is always present.The diameter of the fibres is small varying from 6 to 13 millimeters and their length is considerable so that they are specially suitable for fine tissues. When acted upon by freshly prepared ilmmoniacal oxide of copper the fibres undergo a curious change. Some of them smell out and turn round their own axis forming ring- lets and knots ; others puff out in an undulatory manner and under the prolonged influence of the reagent lose all their cellular membranes while their internal membranes are decomposed. The external mem- brane alone remains as a bluish tube. A dilute alcoholic solution of iodine followed by a drop of very dilute sulphuric acid gives to the fibres a reddish-yellow tint ; nitric acid colours them yellow and con- centrated sulphuric acid slightly decomposes them.A solution of caustic soda readily isolates the fibres. In ~~a~~ocl~ordion tinetorum the fibres have a maximum diameter of about 14 millimeters and the length of the cellules is very small varying from 2 to 6 millimeters. The ends of the cellules are rather blunt rarely pointed. As the fibres have not very thick walls the cavity is large and sometimes occupies half the diameter of the cellule. This however is irregular and gives to all the fibre an irregular form. Ammoniacal oxide of copper causes a great swelling of the fibre without however changing its form ; concentrated sulphuric acid dis- solves it completely ; nitric acid colours it yellow and a solution of caustic soda causes the walls to swell so that the cavity is reduced to a fine line and sometimes disappears altogether.J. B. ABSTRACTS OF CHEMICAL PAPERS. Analysis of the Brazil Chestnut the Fruit of Bertholettia, excdsa. By B. CORENWINDER (J. Pharm. Chim. [4] xviii, 14-18). THE following results were obtained and the author compares them with those previonsly found by him in an analysis of the arachido kernel or ea.rth nut (Arachis Iypogma) :-Kernel of Kernel of Brazil chestnut. earth-nut. Water .......................... 8.00 6.76 Oil.. ............................ 65.60 51.75 Nitrogenous substances. ........... 15.31 21-90 Organic matter not nitrogenous .... 7.39 17.66 ......... 1.35 Phosphoric acid -Lime potash silica &c.. ... 2-36) 3-70 !:::} 2.03 100*00 100*00 The percentage of nitrogen in the kernel of the Brazil chestnut is 2.45.The author sugests that the Brazilian chestnut might be more ex- tensively used in Europe. Although its oil soon hecomes rancid and unfit for human consumption it might be utilized in the manufacture of soap &c. and the pressed cake if not available as food for cattle would be a valuable manure. J. B. Analysis of some Cinchona Barks Grownin Jamaica. By J. E. DE VRIJ(Pharm. J. Trans. [3] iv 121-123). THESE barks were examined by the aid of the chemical processes pub- lished by the author supplemented by the use of the yolariscope according to the method also devised by him. He now introduces the following modification of his process. To the solution of the part insoluble in ether a solution of sodium iodide is added and after separating the hydriodide of quinidine-if that alkaloid be present-a solution of bitartrate of sodium is poured into the filtered liquid which precipitates the bitartrate of cinclionidine.The author also points out that it is a mistake to regai-d that portion of the alkaloyds soluble in et#her as consisting wholly of quinine. The following table gives the quantity of quinine contained in 3.00 parts of the different barks examined :-Pure Crystallised quinine. sulphate. Cinchona succirubra (Cold Spring) . . 1.958 == 2.50 C. calisaya.. ...................... 1.265 = 1.612 C. pahudiana.. .................... 0.964 = 1.229 C. officinalis ...................... 0.46 0.586 C.succirubra.. .................... 0.463 0.59 C. micrantha.. ...............:.... ? - Several of these barks contained a riew crystallisablc lavogyrate alkaloid. W. A. T VEGETABLE PHYSIOLOGY AKD AGRICULTURE. Analysis of some Barks of Cinchona Officinalis and its Varieties Cultivated at Ootacarnund. By J. E. DE VRIJ (Pharm. J. Trans. [3] iv lt;l-l84). 100 parts of bark dried at 200" C. contain :-kgstallised kninovic Mixed ?Ye sulphate .lkaloXds pinine. If quinine. acid. Var. angzcstzlfolia grown at Doda- betta elevation ..............} Ditto ditto ............ Seedling of C. o&inalis grown at elevation of 6,200 feet ........ } Similar variety tooNo. 3 .......... Renewed bark of C. o$icinalis; 18 months old ; 7,800 feet........ } Same renewed bark ; 15 moiiths old. Same; 28 months old ............ Dodabetta original C. oflvinalis branch-bark ................1 Same ; small branch-bark.. ......... Same stem-bark mossed.. ........ Same ; uiimossed ................. Large-leared seedling of c. ofiei-nalis; eleration 8,200 feet .... } Dodabetta C. oficilzalis; feet; exposed place .......... 874001 Same sheltered .................. Neddiwattum C. qficinalis ; posed position ; 5,800 feet.. .."lt-} Dodabetta C o$icinaZis ;manured .. The same unmltnured ............ 10 -130 8 -000 lo -199 0 -920 11 -960 9 -100 11 -600 0*761 6 *050 2 *286 2 -914 0 -188 10'670 3 ,707 4 925 0.250 4'630 2 '470 3 *I36 1 -050 8 -140 10 *ooo 4 *530 2 *917 5 *775 3 -718 iot deter-mined.1.612 3 *115 1 "760 2.243 0*400 0 *984 not determined. 0 '227 '7 *285 4 981 6.095 0-822 4 -785 2.600 3 *314 0*400 2.860 none. - 0 -345 8 920 2 '33!5 2 *989 0 -170 8 -424 5 *340 6 * SO? 0.684 5 -726 1.410 1-79? 0 -620 11 *660 8.366 6 -950 3 "750 8 *860 4,780 0,950 0 -758 The rcsults of the analysis of number 14 lead to the conclusion that it cannot be a variety of Clinchona oflcinalis. According to Mr. J. E. Howard it is probably Cinchona erythrawta. W. A. T. Javanese Cinchona Barks. By J. JOBST (Deut. Chem. Ges. Ber. vi 1129-1133). THISpaper contains a comprehensive account of the marks prices and alkalo'idal contents of a number of samples of cinchona bark from Java which were imported at Amsterdam in May 1873.The results of the examinations show that some samples of C&zchona calisuya are very rich in quinine samples marked D and E yielding 3.20 and 7.62 per cent. of quinine sulphate. Other samples of C. calisnya and samples of 0.harskm-liana yielded somewhat less satisfactory results while C. cdoptera yielded Qnly 0.99 per cent. of quinine sulphate. T,B. ABSTRACTS OF CHEMICAL PAPERS. Persian Opium. By P. CARLES (J.Pharm. Chirn. [4],xvii 427-429). A NEW opium bearing this name is now found in commerce. It occurs in conical cakes weighing about 440 grams; its odour is similar to that of green coffee but when heated resembles chocolate. It mixes more easily with water than Smyrna opium and yields 53 per cent.of extract. When the extract has been concentrated it becomes on cooling nearly solid from the separation of crystals of narcotine. Analysed by Fordos’ method the opium yielded morphine 8.4 per cent. and narcotine 3.6 per cent. When only half the ammonia required by this method is added almost the whole of the narcotine crystallises by itself the morphine remaining in solution. By the fermentation test the presence of sugar was established. This opium differs a good deal from the Persian opium described by Guibourt. R. W. The Ash of Diseased Potatoes. By A. S. WILSON (Chem. News xxviii 91). THEpotatoes examined were ‘‘Regents,” grown in the wet season of 1872 and very much diseased. The adhering soil was carefully re- moved from the cavities with a knife.The (fresh ?) sample gave 1-07‘ per cent. of ash which had the following composition :-K. Ha. Mg. Cn. Fe20,. P205. SO3. C02. C1. SiOP 0. 44-61 ‘25 2.36 1.12 *53 14.48 5.57 15.80 1.31 2.89 11*22=100*10 The author compares his results wit’h those of EIannay (p. 930 of this volume) and concludes that potash and sulphuric acid are in- creased to some extent and lime and magnesia diminished in diseased potatoes.* R. W. Notes on Guano. By E. CHEVREUL. 1. (Glompt. rend. Ixxvi 1376-7382).-0ccurrenee of avic acid in guano (see p. 1052 of last volume). 2. (COW@.remi. lxxvi 1500-1508) .-A sample of compact guano of crystalline aspect sent by Messrs. Dreyfus to the Central Society of Agriculture of France evolved carbon dioxide when treated with water (1 gram yielding about 10 c.c.) leaving in solution ammonium car- bonate and a crystallisable subst,ance containing avic acid whilst brown flocks separated which consisted of calcium phosphate and organic matter.A transparent crystalline mass discovered in a specimen of guano, proved to consist of nearly pure ammonium phosphate. Attention is drawn to the necessity of a proximate analysis in com-paring the value of different kinds of manure and also to the very advantageous characters which guano possesses as a fertilising agent * These conclusions will scarcely be substantiated if the results of Hannay and Wilson for diseased potatoes are compared with the mean composition of sound potatoes given by E. Wolff. ’ It seems very improbable that the entrance of a fungus should alter the ash constituents of the tuber unless time and moisture allow diffu-sion from without to take place.That a lack of ash constituents is not the predispos- ing cause of disease is shown by numerous field experiments.-R. W. ANALYTICAL GHEXISTRY. owing more particularly to the above-meo tioned property of yielding ammonium Carbonate and free carbonic acid by the action of water. The author considers that avic acid might serve as a certificate of the genuineneris of a reputed guano. 3. (Compt. remd. lxxvii 1!55--157) .-On examining the various ammonium carbonates to ascertain which of them conferred upon guano the property of evolving carbon dioxide on contact with water tlie author found that the bicarbonate whether prepared by saturating liquid ammonia with carbon dioxide or by exposing the sesquicarbonato to the air exhibited this reaction.4 5 6. (Cow@. rerzd. lxxvii 453 569 SUl).-The chief facts of interest in these three notes are :-That the crystallisable material dissolved from guano by cold water consists mainly of ammonium oxalate mixed with yellow red and brown organic colouring matters ; that the residue left after complete extraction of guano with cold water yields avic acid to hot alcohol although the residue originally possessed no smell of the acid ; that prolonged washing does not remove the whole of the ammonium carbonate from the insoluble residue of guano ; that the bones of birds found in guano have entirely lost their cohesion being reduced by trituration with water to orange flocks the water at the same time becoming acid and dissolving some calcium phosphate ; that one of the samples of guano yielded a salt containing calcium ammonium potassium and oxalic acid soluble in a little water but decomposed by a larger quantity with precipitation of calcium oxalate.From a review of his investigations the author concludes that these crystalline substances have been formed by a slow action in the absence of any notable proportion of water. MI. J. S.