90 ABSTRACTS OF CHEMICAL PAPERS. Chemistry of Vegetable Physiology and Agriculture. Invert Sugar and Selective Fermentation. By E. MAUMENB (Compt. rend., 101, 695).-A contribution to the controversy between Berthelot, Leplay, and Maurnen4 on this subject (Abstr., 1885, 1003, 1085, 1152). Comparative Researches on the Formation of Amides during the Germination of Various Seeds in the Dark. By B. SCHULZE and E. FLECHSIQ (Landw. Verswhs-Stat., 1885, 137- 149).-Altahough we are in possession of much iiiformation con- cerning the change of albumin into nsparagine, yet we are still ignorant whether the %hole of the albumino'ids are converted into asparagine and its congeners or not. One special object of this investigation was to discover if, when legumes and cereals germinate in the dark under the same conditions, relatively corresponding amounts of amides were produced from the albumin in each.All the details of the methods employed and of the analytical results are given. The analyses show that in all cases the conversion is very gradual and different, the legumes as a rule producing, not only absolutely but also relatively, larger quantities of amides ; this is most remarkable in the case of lupines. It may also be taken for granted that seeds when germinating do not of necessity produce an amount of amides ah all proportional t o their nitrogen reserve matter, but that the individual character of the plant itself has very considerable influence. E. W. P. Action of Saline Solutions on Germination. Ry M. JARIUS (Landw. Versuchs-Stat., 1885, 149--178).-These experiments were instituted with the object of completely answering the question as to whether the solutions of manures in the soil have, or have not, a detrimental action on the germination of the seed sown.The first portion of the article is occupied in discussing and reviewing other work on the subject, after which the author's own experiments and results are given in very full detail. The strengths of the saline solutions employed were 0.41, 1.0, and 2.0 per cent., and the seeds were in some cases allowed to soak for 2 M 8 hours, and in other cases 1-5 days. The solutions employed were of sodium and potassium chlorides, potassium and ammonium sulphates, cdcium hydrogen phosphate, potassium and sodium nitrates, and a solution containing all the nourishing constituents of plants.Peas steeped in a 2 per cent. solution for 24-48 hours increase in weight and volume regularly, but this increase is less than that which takes place when distilled water is employed. After 48 hours, the volume experiences a lesser increase than the weight, and this increase is reduced as the solutions become more concentrated, and the longer the period of steeping is continued, so that the ratio between volume and weight in 2 per cent. solutions and after 48 hours is the widest, that is, theVEGETABLE PHYSIOLOGY AND AGRICULTURE. 91 sp. gr. is then the highest. The sp. gr., as also the increase in weight and volume, is after 24 hours now raised, now lowered, when solutions of 0.2, 0.4, and 1 per cent. are used.Only in the cases of sodium chloride and nitrate in all concentrations, and from the beginning to the end of the steeping, is a constant increase in sp. gr. found ; whilst in the other solutions under all conditions, the increase in weight and volume is less than that when the liquid is water. The greatest amount of variation is found in the 0.4 and 1.0 per cent. solutions of salts of potassium after 24 hours. Finally the increase in weight and volume of peas attains its maximum in the shortest possible time the more concentrated the solutions are ; the time being dependent on the salt dissolved. The influence of the solutions on germination was tested under various conditions, such as 1-5 days with full and partial supply of air. The resalts are as follows: germination is decidedly aided by 0.2-0.4 per cent.solutions, but 1-2 per cent. solutions do harm, the shoots being feeble and abnormal, &c.; this harmful action is the more marked when there is not a plentiful supply of air, and also the good done by the weaker solutions is less when air is not freely accessible to the seed. Leguminosae and Crucifem are much assisted by the " nutritive solution," 0.4 per cent. solutions of potassium nitrate, and sodium chloride, whilst even 0.2 and 0.4 per cent. Rolutions of ammonium sulphate and calcium hydrogen phosphate are distinctly harmful to the above classes of plants. Grass seeds are not liable to much harm. Even 2 per cent. solutions are productive of good, the most damage being done by sodium chloride and nitrate in '2 per cent.solutions; summer rye is less subject to influence, whilst maize is more easily affected for good by 0.4 and 1.0 per cent. solutions than all the other grasses. The results of the investigation show that no harm can possibly come of the use of manures, as their solution in the soil can never be stronger than 0.4 per cent. Still the seed should not be sown immediately on the manure, as in such a, case it is possible that a solution stmnger than 0.4 per cent. may be formed. There is an interesting table given fihowing the ratio between the growths of lthe radicle and plumule of several seeds when subject during growth t o various strengths of a solution. E. W P. Composition of the Pollen of the Common Pine. By A. VON PLANTA (Landau. Versuchs-Stat., 1885, 215-'230).-The author fully describes every process which he has employed for the estimation of the constituents of pollen : the results are as follows :- Water.................... N. ....................... (N x 6.25 ................ Non-nitrogenous matter .... Ash. ..................... Hyponanthine and guanine. . Saccharose. ............... Shmh .................. Cuticula.. ................ 7.66 per cent. 2.65 ,, 16.56) ,, 72.48 ,) 3-30 ,, 0-04 3Y 11.24 ,, 7.06 ,, 21.97 ,,92 ABSTRACTS OF CHEMICAL PAPERS. Wax-like compounds . . . . . . Fatty acids . , . . . . . . . . . . . .. ,, Resinous bitter compounds.. 7.93 ,, 3.56 per cent. 10.63 Under the name cuticula is to be understood that chemically changed cellular matter, which overlays stru~turm, and is in direct contact with the air.It was estimated by digesting the pollen for three days with a 5 per cent. alcoholic potash solution, whereby fat, &c., was removed from the pollen grains ; the residue was boiled with semi-normal hydrochloric acid for two hours ; this removed the last traces of starch, and then ether removed any further soluble matters there might be, so that pure cuticula remained. The Sugar of Symphoricarpus Racemosa. By P. HERRMANN and B. TOLLENS ( A n n u l e n , 230, 50-55). - The authors have examined the sugar contained in the fruit of Syn?phoricarpus racenzosa, and find that it consists of a mixture of dextrose and laevulose. E. W. P. w. c. w. Conditions of the Development, and of the Activity, of Chlorophyll. By J. H. GILBERT (Brit.A ssoc.,* 1885) .-The foliage of different plants presents a great variety of shades of green, and i t may be stated that, a t any rate so far as our common agricultural plants are concerned, somewhat characteristic shades of colour are shown according to the natural order to which they belong, the Leguminosae differing from the Graminze, the Cruciferae, the Cheno- podiaceae, and so on. But the same description of plant will exhibit very characteristic differences, not only a t different stages of growth, but a t the same stage in different conditions of luxuriance, as affected by the external conditions of soil, season, manuring, &c., but especi- ally under the influence of different conditions as to manuring. The Rothamsted field experiments show that in a series of com- parable experiments with the same crop, depth of green colour by no means necessarily implies a finally greater amount of carbon assimi- lation ; whilst it has long ago been experimentally proved that the deeper colour was associated with a relatively high percentage of nitrogen in the dry o r solid substance of the herbage; and this obviously means a lower relation of carbon to nitrogen.Comparative determinations of the amounts of chlorophyll were made by Russell in parallel specimens to those in which the author determined the percentages of dry matter and of nitrogen. The following table gives the results of some of these experiments; namely, the percentages of nitrogen, and the relative amounts of chlorophyll, in the separated gramineous, and the separated legu- minous plants, in the mixed herbage of grass land, in specimens of wheat grown by a purely nitrogenous manure, and by the same nitrogenous manure with a full mineral manure in addition ; and in specimens of barley grown by a purely nitrogenous manure, and by a mixture of the same nitrogenous manure and mineral manure in addition.It is to be borne in mind that the specimens were collected * Read in Section B, at the meeting of the British Association at Aberdeen, September, 1885.VEGETABLE PHYSIOLOGY AND AGRICULTURE. 93 whilst should are. as the plants were still quite green, and actively growing. It be further explained t h a t the amounts of chlorophyll recorded stated in the table, relative and not actual ; that is to sa,y, the figures show the relative amounts for the individual members of each pair of experiments, and not the comparative amounts as between one set of experiments and another.-- Hay. Gramineze ................... Leg uminosm ................. Wheat. Ammonium salts only.. ........ Ammonium salts and mineral manure .................... Barley. Ammonium salts only ......... Ammonium salts and mineral manure.. .................. Nitrogen per cent. in dry substance. 1 -190 2 -478 *la 227 +O -566 "1 ' 474 +O -792 Relative amounts of chlorop h y 11. A- 0 -77 2 -40 2 -00 1 -00 3'20 1 *46 Carbon assimilated per acre per annum. Actual. lbs. - - 13% 2222 1403 2088 Difference. -- lbs. - - - 824 - 685 JI: Not fully dried. Thus the separated leguminous herbage of hay contained a, much higher percentage of nitrogen in its dry substance than the separated gramineous herbage ; and also a much higher proportion of chloro- phyll.Indeed, under comparable conditions, the Leguminosae eventually maintain a much higher relation of nitrogen to carbon than the Gramineze; in other words, in their case, carbon is not assimilated in so large a proportion to the nitrogen taken up. The wheat plants manured with ammonium salts alone show a much higher percentage of nitrogen tham those manured with the same amount of ammonium salts, but with mineral manure in addi- tion. The high proportion of chlorophyll again goes with the high nitrogen percentage ; but the last column of the table shows that, with the ammonium salts without mineral manure, with the high percentage of nitrogen, and the high proportion of chlorophyll, in the dry substance of the green produce, there is eventually very much less assimilation of carbon.The result is exactly similar in the case of barley. It is evident that the chlorophyll formation has a close connection with the amount of nitrogen assimilated, but that the carbon assimi- lation is not in proportion to the chlorophyll formed, if there be not n sufficiency .of the necessary mineral constituents available. No doubt there had been as much, or more, of both nitrogen assimilated,94 ABSTRACTS OF CHEMICAL PAPERS. and chlorophyll formed, over a given area,, where the mineral as we11 as the nitrogenous manure had been applied, the lower proportion of both in the dry matt,er being due to the greater assimilation of carbon and consequent greater formation of non-nitrogenous substances. It is of interest t o observe that these results of experiments in the field are perfectJy consistent with those obtained by vegetable physio- logists in the laboratory; they having found that the presence of certain mineral, or ash constituents, and especially that of potassium, is essential for the assimilation of carbon, no st,arch being formed in the grains of chlorophyll withouf; the aid of that substance.Sachs says, " Potassium is as essential for the assimilating activity of chloro- phyll as iron for its production." Adonis Vernalis and Adonidin. By J. MORDAGNE ( P h ~ m . J. Trans. [ 3 ] , 16, 145-146) .-Adonis vernaiis amongst other substances contains aconitic acid and a glucoside, adonidin.To obtain the latter, the leaves and stalks are dried, extracted with 58" alcohol, treated with basic lead acetate, fhe excess of lead removed with sodium carbonate, the liquid made alkaline with ammonia, and the glucoside precipitated by means of tannin. The tannate is digested with zinc hydroxide and alcohol at a gentle heat for several hours, the alcohol is then distilled 08, and tEie glucoside extracted with absolute alcohol, carefully evaporated and dried over sulphuric acid. The yield is 2 grams per 10 kilos. The substance forms a rather hygroscopic canary-yellow powder, but, after proloiiged desiccation forms radiating crystals, Ammonia prevents crystallisation. It is soluble in water, alcohol, and amyl alcohol'; insoluble in anhydrous ether, chloroform, turpentime oil, and benzene ; and has a persistent bitter taste.Heated a t 80-85" i t loses 3.14 per cent. water, but does not alter physically ; between 85-90" it becomes brown; and at 100" nearly black. It contains no nitrogen, ia neutral to litmus, and only reduces Fehling's solution when heated with it in presence of hydrochloric acid. Ammonia turns it brown, tannin precipitates it, and basic lead acetate produces a cloudiness in its solutions, whilst baryta and alkaloid reagents do not react wiCh it. When decomposed, it yields a resinous substance soluble in ether, and develops a persistent odour of cut hay. Owing to its imperfect and troublesome crystallisation a good sample can scarcely be obtained for analysis, but the mean of several experi- ments gives per cent.C, 42,623 ; H, 7 5 4 7 ; 8. = 49.830. D. A. 11. Arum Italicurn. By G. SPICA and Gl BISCARO (Gazzetta, 15, 238- 242).-As the symptoms occurring in three cases of poisoning by eating the spadices of the Arum italicurn were peculiar, the authors have made a chemical and a physiological study of this species, From the spadices, a glucoside has been extracted, identical with saponin ; the symptoms produced by the hypodermic injection of h0t.h sub- stances into frogs were compared, and found to be practically the same. In both cases, general paralysis of the nervous and muscular systems supervened, ending, in most cases, in death : the symptoms are not those of tetanus as at first supposed. V. H. V.VEGETABLE PHYSIOLOGY AND AGRICULTURE.95 Researches on Gourds. By R. ULBRICHT (Landw. Versuchs- Stat., 1885, 230-240) .--The author details the physical composit#ion of many gourds, showing the proportion of rind to flesh and seed, and the chemical constituents of all parts of various gourds, as well as the composition of the ash. Illiciurn Religiosum. By J. P. EIJKRIAN (Eec. Trav. Chim., 4, 32--54).-The liquid obtained by distilling the leaves and fruits of I l l i c i u m reZigiosum with water consists of euqenol, a terpene to which the author gives the name of schikirnene, and safrole, besides a small quantity of some indefinite compounds of high boiling point, which are probably formed by the polymerisation of the previous com- pounds. Schikimene boils at about 170", and i8 a fragrant, limpid, mobile, colourless liquid; its sp.gr. = 0.865 ; with conceiitrated sulphuric acid it yields a magnificent orange colour, and on warming with nitric acid it deflagates with violence, it also explodes on con- tact with iodine ; its specific rotatory power is [ a ] , = - 22*5", but if heated for some time over metallic sodium, it is reduced to - 0.85". The author finds that by heating safrole gently with an equal quantity of an aqueous solution of potassium permsnganate (1 part in 40 of water) piperonic acid is formed (comp. Abstr., 1884, 1338), and from this and the measurement of the refractive index he considers that the constitution of safrole is probably best E. W. P. n expressed by the formula C,H,Pr<~>CHZ [Pr : QCHz = 1 : 3 : 41 (compare Abstr., 1884, 1339).The residue left after the removal of the above compounds by distillation, when subjected to strong pres- sure, yields a clear syrup which contains protocatechuic acid, schi- kirnic acid, and schikimipicrin ; schikirnic acid, C7Hl0O6, which is present in large quantities, is a white, crystalline compound, insoluble in alcohol, ether, and chloroform, but readily soluble in wat'er, dilute alcohol, and also in concentrated sulphuric acid; it is not precipi- tated from its solution by metallie salts, and is not affected by ferric chloride, Fehling's solution, or smmoniacal silver solution ; an alka- line solution of auric chloride, however, acts on it readily, oxalic acid being formed ; bromine also acts violently on its aqueous solu-. tion ; by fusion with potassium hydroxide, i t appears to yield proto- catechuic acid.It is a strong acid, readily decomposing carbonates ; it melts a t about 178-180" (uncorr.), and bas a speci6c rotatory power = - 200.4", its salts are difficult to crystallise, being very soluble in water. Schihimipicrin forms large, transparent crystals, readily soluble in warm water or alcohol, b u t insoluble in ether, chloroform, and light petroleum, it melts a t 200" (uncorr.), its reaction is neutral, and it has an extremely bitter taste. Analyses of Varieties of Lupines, Beans, and Maize grown under like Conditions. By E. FLECHSIG (Lnndw. Versuchs-Stat., 32, 179-195 j.--Full tables are given, showing the analytical results obtained with 10 varieties of lupines, 12 varieties of beans, and 9 varieties of maize, grown under identical conditions as regards soil, manuring, &c.A. P.96 ABSTRACTS OF CHEMICAL PAPERS. Nitrogenous Organic Compounds in the Soil. By G. LOGES (Landw. Versuchs-Stat., 1885, 201-202).-HydrochIoric acid extracts from the soil, besides humic acid, a nitrogenous compound. This compound could not be separated by dialysis, but it forms a volu- minous, yellow precipitate with phosphotungstic acid. The composition of this humic substance is still uncertain ; samples prepared from two kinds of soils contained N = 6.8 and 6.5 per cent., C = 45.4 and 37.3 per cent. E. W. P.90 ABSTRACTS OF CHEMICAL PAPERS.Chemistry of Vegetable Physiology and Agriculture.Invert Sugar and Selective Fermentation. By E. MAUMENB(Compt. rend., 101, 695).-A contribution to the controversy betweenBerthelot, Leplay, and Maurnen4 on this subject (Abstr., 1885, 1003,1085, 1152).Comparative Researches on the Formation of Amidesduring the Germination of Various Seeds in the Dark.ByB. SCHULZE and E. FLECHSIQ (Landw. Verswhs-Stat., 1885, 137-149).-Altahough we are in possession of much iiiformation con-cerning the change of albumin into nsparagine, yet we are stillignorant whether the %hole of the albumino'ids are converted intoasparagine and its congeners or not. One special object of thisinvestigation was to discover if, when legumes and cereals germinatein the dark under the same conditions, relatively correspondingamounts of amides were produced from the albumin in each.All thedetails of the methods employed and of the analytical results aregiven. The analyses show that in all cases the conversion is verygradual and different, the legumes as a rule producing, not onlyabsolutely but also relatively, larger quantities of amides ; this is mostremarkable in the case of lupines. It may also be taken for grantedthat seeds when germinating do not of necessity produce an amountof amides ah all proportional t o their nitrogen reserve matter, butthat the individual character of the plant itself has very considerableinfluence. E. W. P.Action of Saline Solutions on Germination. Ry M. JARIUS(Landw. Versuchs-Stat., 1885, 149--178).-These experiments wereinstituted with the object of completely answering the question as towhether the solutions of manures in the soil have, or have not, adetrimental action on the germination of the seed sown.The firstportion of the article is occupied in discussing and reviewing otherwork on the subject, after which the author's own experimentsand results are given in very full detail. The strengths of thesaline solutions employed were 0.41, 1.0, and 2.0 per cent., andthe seeds were in some cases allowed to soak for 2 M 8 hours, and inother cases 1-5 days. The solutions employed were of sodium andpotassium chlorides, potassium and ammonium sulphates, cdciumhydrogen phosphate, potassium and sodium nitrates, and a solutioncontaining all the nourishing constituents of plants. Peas steeped ina 2 per cent. solution for 24-48 hours increase in weight and volumeregularly, but this increase is less than that which takes place whendistilled water is employed.After 48 hours, the volume experiences alesser increase than the weight, and this increase is reduced as thesolutions become more concentrated, and the longer the period ofsteeping is continued, so that the ratio between volume and weight in2 per cent. solutions and after 48 hours is the widest, that is, thVEGETABLE PHYSIOLOGY AND AGRICULTURE. 91sp. gr. is then the highest. The sp. gr., as also the increase in weightand volume, is after 24 hours now raised, now lowered, when solutionsof 0.2, 0.4, and 1 per cent. are used. Only in the cases of sodiumchloride and nitrate in all concentrations, and from the beginning tothe end of the steeping, is a constant increase in sp.gr. found ; whilstin the other solutions under all conditions, the increase in weight andvolume is less than that when the liquid is water. The greatestamount of variation is found in the 0.4 and 1.0 per cent. solutionsof salts of potassium after 24 hours. Finally the increase in weightand volume of peas attains its maximum in the shortest possible timethe more concentrated the solutions are ; the time being dependent onthe salt dissolved.The influence of the solutions on germination was tested undervarious conditions, such as 1-5 days with full and partial supply ofair. The resalts are as follows: germination is decidedly aided by0.2-0.4 per cent. solutions, but 1-2 per cent. solutions do harm, theshoots being feeble and abnormal, &c.; this harmful action is themore marked when there is not a plentiful supply of air, and also thegood done by the weaker solutions is less when air is not freelyaccessible to the seed.Leguminosae and Crucifem are much assistedby the " nutritive solution," 0.4 per cent. solutions of potassiumnitrate, and sodium chloride, whilst even 0.2 and 0.4 per cent.Rolutions of ammonium sulphate and calcium hydrogen phosphate aredistinctly harmful to the above classes of plants. Grass seeds arenot liable to much harm. Even 2 per cent. solutions are productiveof good, the most damage being done by sodium chloride and nitratein '2 per cent. solutions; summer rye is less subject to influence,whilst maize is more easily affected for good by 0.4 and 1.0 per cent.solutions than all the other grasses.The results of the investigationshow that no harm can possibly come of the use of manures, as theirsolution in the soil can never be stronger than 0.4 per cent. Still theseed should not be sown immediately on the manure, as in such a,case it is possible that a solution stmnger than 0.4 per cent. may beformed. There is an interesting table given fihowing the ratio betweenthe growths of lthe radicle and plumule of several seeds when subjectduring growth t o various strengths of a solution. E. W P.Composition of the Pollen of the Common Pine. By A. VONPLANTA (Landau. Versuchs-Stat., 1885, 215-'230).-The author fullydescribes every process which he has employed for the estimation ofthe constituents of pollen : the results are as follows :-Water....................N. .......................(N x 6.25 ................Non-nitrogenous matter ....Ash. .....................Hyponanthine and guanine. .Saccharose. ...............Shmh ..................Cuticula.. ................7.66 per cent.2.65 ,,16.56) ,,72.48 ,)3-30 ,,0-04 3Y11.24 ,,7.06 ,,21.97 ,92 ABSTRACTS OF CHEMICAL PAPERS.Wax-like compounds . . . . . .Fatty acids . , . . . . . . . . . . . .. ,,Resinous bitter compounds.. 7.93 ,,3.56 per cent.10.63Under the name cuticula is to be understood that chemicallychanged cellular matter, which overlays stru~turm, and is in directcontact with the air.It was estimated by digesting the pollen forthree days with a 5 per cent. alcoholic potash solution, wherebyfat, &c., was removed from the pollen grains ; the residue was boiledwith semi-normal hydrochloric acid for two hours ; this removed thelast traces of starch, and then ether removed any further solublematters there might be, so that pure cuticula remained.The Sugar of Symphoricarpus Racemosa. By P. HERRMANNand B. TOLLENS ( A n n u l e n , 230, 50-55). - The authors haveexamined the sugar contained in the fruit of Syn?phoricarpus racenzosa,and find that it consists of a mixture of dextrose and laevulose.E. W. P.w. c. w.Conditions of the Development, and of the Activity, ofChlorophyll. By J. H. GILBERT (Brit. A ssoc.,* 1885) .-The foliageof different plants presents a great variety of shades of green, and i tmay be stated that, a t any rate so far as our common agriculturalplants are concerned, somewhat characteristic shades of colour areshown according to the natural order to which they belong, theLeguminosae differing from the Graminze, the Cruciferae, the Cheno-podiaceae, and so on. But the same description of plant will exhibitvery characteristic differences, not only a t different stages of growth,but a t the same stage in different conditions of luxuriance, as affectedby the external conditions of soil, season, manuring, &c., but especi-ally under the influence of different conditions as to manuring.The Rothamsted field experiments show that in a series of com-parable experiments with the same crop, depth of green colour by nomeans necessarily implies a finally greater amount of carbon assimi-lation ; whilst it has long ago been experimentally proved that thedeeper colour was associated with a relatively high percentage ofnitrogen in the dry o r solid substance of the herbage; and thisobviously means a lower relation of carbon to nitrogen.Comparative determinations of the amounts of chlorophyll weremade by Russell in parallel specimens to those in which the authordetermined the percentages of dry matter and of nitrogen.The following table gives the results of some of these experiments;namely, the percentages of nitrogen, and the relative amounts ofchlorophyll, in the separated gramineous, and the separated legu-minous plants, in the mixed herbage of grass land, in specimens ofwheat grown by a purely nitrogenous manure, and by the samenitrogenous manure with a full mineral manure in addition ; and inspecimens of barley grown by a purely nitrogenous manure, and bya mixture of the same nitrogenous manure and mineral manure inaddition.It is to be borne in mind that the specimens were collected* Read in Section B, at the meeting of the British Association at Aberdeen,September, 1885VEGETABLE PHYSIOLOGY AND AGRICULTURE. 93whilstshouldare. asthe plants were still quite green, and actively growing. Itbe further explained t h a t the amounts of chlorophyll recordedstated in the table, relative and not actual ; that is to sa,y, thefigures show the relative amounts for the individual members of eachpair of experiments, and not the comparative amounts as betweenone set of experiments and another.--Hay.Gramineze ...................Leg uminosm .................Wheat.Ammonium salts only..........Ammonium salts and mineralmanure ....................Barley.Ammonium salts only .........Ammonium salts and mineralmanure.. ..................Nitrogenper cent.in drysubstance.1 -1902 -478*la 227+O -566"1 ' 474+O -792Relativeamounts ofchlorop h y 11.A-0 -772 -402 -001 -003'201 *46Carbon assimilatedper acre per annum.Actual.lbs. - -13%222214032088Difference. --lbs.--- 824- 685JI: Not fully dried.Thus the separated leguminous herbage of hay contained a, muchhigher percentage of nitrogen in its dry substance than the separatedgramineous herbage ; and also a much higher proportion of chloro-phyll.Indeed, under comparable conditions, the Leguminosaeeventually maintain a much higher relation of nitrogen to carbonthan the Gramineze; in other words, in their case, carbon is notassimilated in so large a proportion to the nitrogen taken up.The wheat plants manured with ammonium salts alone show amuch higher percentage of nitrogen tham those manured with thesame amount of ammonium salts, but with mineral manure in addi-tion. The high proportion of chlorophyll again goes with the highnitrogen percentage ; but the last column of the table shows that,with the ammonium salts without mineral manure, with the highpercentage of nitrogen, and the high proportion of chlorophyll, inthe dry substance of the green produce, there is eventually verymuch less assimilation of carbon.The result is exactly similar inthe case of barley.It is evident that the chlorophyll formation has a close connectionwith the amount of nitrogen assimilated, but that the carbon assimi-lation is not in proportion to the chlorophyll formed, if there be notn sufficiency .of the necessary mineral constituents available. Nodoubt there had been as much, or more, of both nitrogen assimilated94 ABSTRACTS OF CHEMICAL PAPERS.and chlorophyll formed, over a given area,, where the mineral as we11as the nitrogenous manure had been applied, the lower proportion ofboth in the dry matt,er being due to the greater assimilation of carbonand consequent greater formation of non-nitrogenous substances.It is of interest t o observe that these results of experiments in thefield are perfectJy consistent with those obtained by vegetable physio-logists in the laboratory; they having found that the presence ofcertain mineral, or ash constituents, and especially that of potassium,is essential for the assimilation of carbon, no st,arch being formed inthe grains of chlorophyll withouf; the aid of that substance.Sachssays, " Potassium is as essential for the assimilating activity of chloro-phyll as iron for its production."Adonis Vernalis and Adonidin. By J. MORDAGNE ( P h ~ m . J.Trans.[ 3 ] , 16, 145-146) .-Adonis vernaiis amongst other substancescontains aconitic acid and a glucoside, adonidin. To obtain the latter,the leaves and stalks are dried, extracted with 58" alcohol, treatedwith basic lead acetate, fhe excess of lead removed with sodiumcarbonate, the liquid made alkaline with ammonia, and the glucosideprecipitated by means of tannin. The tannate is digested with zinchydroxide and alcohol at a gentle heat for several hours, the alcoholis then distilled 08, and tEie glucoside extracted with absolute alcohol,carefully evaporated and dried over sulphuric acid. The yield is2 grams per 10 kilos. The substance forms a rather hygroscopiccanary-yellow powder, but, after proloiiged desiccation forms radiatingcrystals, Ammonia prevents crystallisation. It is soluble in water,alcohol, and amyl alcohol'; insoluble in anhydrous ether, chloroform,turpentime oil, and benzene ; and has a persistent bitter taste. Heateda t 80-85" i t loses 3.14 per cent.water, but does not alter physically ;between 85-90" it becomes brown; and at 100" nearly black. Itcontains no nitrogen, ia neutral to litmus, and only reduces Fehling'ssolution when heated with it in presence of hydrochloric acid.Ammonia turns it brown, tannin precipitates it, and basic lead acetateproduces a cloudiness in its solutions, whilst baryta and alkaloidreagents do not react wiCh it. When decomposed, it yields a resinoussubstance soluble in ether, and develops a persistent odour of cut hay.Owing to its imperfect and troublesome crystallisation a good samplecan scarcely be obtained for analysis, but the mean of several experi-ments gives per cent.C, 42,623 ; H, 7 5 4 7 ; 8. = 49.830.D. A. 11.Arum Italicurn. By G. SPICA and Gl BISCARO (Gazzetta, 15, 238-242).-As the symptoms occurring in three cases of poisoning byeating the spadices of the Arum italicurn were peculiar, the authorshave made a chemical and a physiological study of this species, Fromthe spadices, a glucoside has been extracted, identical with saponin ;the symptoms produced by the hypodermic injection of h0t.h sub-stances into frogs were compared, and found to be practically thesame. In both cases, general paralysis of the nervous and muscularsystems supervened, ending, in most cases, in death : the symptomsare not those of tetanus as at first supposed.V. H. VVEGETABLE PHYSIOLOGY AND AGRICULTURE. 95Researches on Gourds. By R. ULBRICHT (Landw. Versuchs-Stat., 1885, 230-240) .--The author details the physical composit#ionof many gourds, showing the proportion of rind to flesh and seed,and the chemical constituents of all parts of various gourds, as wellas the composition of the ash.Illiciurn Religiosum. By J. P. EIJKRIAN (Eec. Trav. Chim., 4,32--54).-The liquid obtained by distilling the leaves and fruits ofI l l i c i u m reZigiosum with water consists of euqenol, a terpene to whichthe author gives the name of schikirnene, and safrole, besides a smallquantity of some indefinite compounds of high boiling point, whichare probably formed by the polymerisation of the previous com-pounds.Schikimene boils at about 170", and i8 a fragrant, limpid,mobile, colourless liquid; its sp. gr. = 0.865 ; with conceiitratedsulphuric acid it yields a magnificent orange colour, and on warmingwith nitric acid it deflagates with violence, it also explodes on con-tact with iodine ; its specific rotatory power is [ a ] , = - 22*5", but ifheated for some time over metallic sodium, it is reduced to - 0.85".The author finds that by heating safrole gently with an equalquantity of an aqueous solution of potassium permsnganate (1 partin 40 of water) piperonic acid is formed (comp. Abstr., 1884,1338), and from this and the measurement of the refractiveindex he considers that the constitution of safrole is probably bestE.W. P.nexpressed by the formula C,H,Pr<~>CHZ [Pr : QCHz = 1 : 3 : 41(compare Abstr., 1884, 1339). The residue left after the removal ofthe above compounds by distillation, when subjected to strong pres-sure, yields a clear syrup which contains protocatechuic acid, schi-kirnic acid, and schikimipicrin ; schikirnic acid, C7Hl0O6, which ispresent in large quantities, is a white, crystalline compound, insolublein alcohol, ether, and chloroform, but readily soluble in wat'er, dilutealcohol, and also in concentrated sulphuric acid; it is not precipi-tated from its solution by metallie salts, and is not affected by ferricchloride, Fehling's solution, or smmoniacal silver solution ; an alka-line solution of auric chloride, however, acts on it readily, oxalicacid being formed ; bromine also acts violently on its aqueous solu-.tion ; by fusion with potassium hydroxide, i t appears to yield proto-catechuic acid. It is a strong acid, readily decomposing carbonates ;it melts a t about 178-180" (uncorr.), and bas a speci6c rotatorypower = - 200.4", its salts are difficult to crystallise, beingvery soluble in water. Schihimipicrin forms large, transparentcrystals, readily soluble in warm water or alcohol, b u t insoluble inether, chloroform, and light petroleum, it melts a t 200" (uncorr.), itsreaction is neutral, and it has an extremely bitter taste.Analyses of Varieties of Lupines, Beans, and Maize grownunder like Conditions. By E. FLECHSIG (Lnndw. Versuchs-Stat.,32, 179-195 j.--Full tables are given, showing the analytical resultsobtained with 10 varieties of lupines, 12 varieties of beans, and9 varieties of maize, grown under identical conditions as regards soil,manuring, &c.A. P96 ABSTRACTS OF CHEMICAL PAPERS.Nitrogenous Organic Compounds in the Soil. By G. LOGES(Landw. Versuchs-Stat., 1885, 201-202).-HydrochIoric acid extractsfrom the soil, besides humic acid, a nitrogenous compound. Thiscompound could not be separated by dialysis, but it forms a volu-minous, yellow precipitate with phosphotungstic acid. The compositionof this humic substance is still uncertain ; samples prepared from twokinds of soils contained N = 6.8 and 6.5 per cent., C = 45.4 and37.3 per cent. E. W. P