VEGETABLE PHYSIOLOGY AND AGRICULTURE. i. 91 Chemistry of Vegetable Physiology an d Ag ri e ul t u r e. The Nature of the Butyric Acid and Butyl Alcohol Fer- mentation. Fixation of Acetaldehyde as a Decomposition Product. Transformation of the Aldol of Pyruvic Acid into Butyric Acid. Production of Higher Fatty Acids from Sugar. CARL NEUBERG and BERNHARD ARINSTEIN (Biochem. Z. 1921,117 269-314) .-Dextrose in a nutrient medium of inorganic materials and in the presence of a fixative for example sodium sulphite is fermented by Bacillus butylicus Fitz with production of about 10% of acetaldehyde. By the use of a culture of Amylobacter acetaldehyde could also be qualitatively recognised. Acetaldehyde or its condensation product aldol is not the intermediate stage in the butyric fermentation but the aldol of pyruvic acid a-keto- 7-valerolactone-7-carboxylic acid which gave butyric acid on fermentation.Starch syrup fermented by a culture of B. butglicus Fitz in an inorganic nutrient medium gave small quantities of t l w higher fatty acids of which decoic was identified. H. K. Action of Aspergillus glaucus on Glycerol. I?. TRAETTA- MOSCA and M. PRETI (G'azxetta 1921 51 ii 269-277).-When Aspergillus glaucus is grown in a nutrient liquid containing glycerol the latter yields the compound C,H,O m. p. 154" previously obtained from sucrose or invert-sugar by the action of the same mould (A. 1914 i 1114). This compound forms a methyl ether C,H,O,*OMe which crystallises in white needles m. p. 165" and unlike the original compound gives no coloration with ferric chloride solution.Hydrolysis of the methyl ether by means of barium or calcium hydroxide results in the formation of methyl- acetol ether and oxalic and formic acids whilst the action of ammonia yields pyridone. The structure of the compound Perataner and Tamburello's maltol (A. 1005 i 807). C,H,O is probably CH<o.C(OH)&*CH,*OH CH-CO .\ and is similar t o T. H. P.i. 92 ABSTRACTS OF CHEMICAL PAPERS. The Longevity of certain Species of Yeast. ARTHUR R. LING and DINSHAW RATTONJI NANJI (Proc. Roy. Soc. 1921 [B] 92 355-357).-Cultures of eight different species of yeast were found to be still alive after thirty-four years’ storage on dry cotton wool pads contained in sealed flasks. Alcoholic Fermentation by means of Heast-cells under Various Conditions. I.Influence of Animal Charcoal and other Adsorbents on the Course of the Fermentation forsch. 1921 5 89-109).-The addition of animal charcoal to a solution containing sugar and yeast -cells effects acceleration of the fermentation and such acceleration appears to be due to the formation of acetaldehyde which is always detectable in the liquid under these conditions. It is uncertain if the acetaldehyde is a product of the degradation of the dextrose or a secondary product formed by oxidation of the ethyl alcohol but it is found that addition of yeast and animal charcoal to aqueous alcohol results after a time in the appearance of an odour of acetaldehyde. Since animal charcoal is an excellent adsorbent for acetaldehyde i t is possible not only that i t takes part in the secondary formation of acetaldehyde from ethyl alcohol but that it concentrates on its surface and thus renders detectable acetaldehyde formed as a primary product of the fermentation of sugar.Alcoholic Fermentation by means of Yeast-cells under Various Conditions. 11. EMIL ABDERHALDEN (Permentforsch. 1921 5 110-1 18 ; cf. preceding abstrac t).-Further investigations show that acetaldehyde solutions which show no loss in weight when left in contact with either animal charcoal or yeast im- mediately begin to evolve gas when both the charcoal and yeast are added. Experiments were made also with pyruvic acid and with methyl and ethyl alcohols it being found that all the samples of animal charcoal tried accelerated the fermentation of sugar by means of yeast caused formation of acetaldehyde and induced formation of acetaldehyde and carbon dioxide from pyruvic acid but that some samples were totally unable to effect transformation of acetaldehyde or alcohols.Functions of the Yeast-cell. Zymase and Carboxylase Action. EMIL ABDERHALDEN and A. FODOR (Ferment forsch. 1921 5 138-163).-The authors consider that the fermentations effected by zymase in its plasma form and by liberated zymase are quantitatively and kinetically different processes and have carried out various experiments with the object of ascertaining how dried yeast differs from the living cell and what substances are removed from living or dried yeast by pressing or maceration. Dried yeast is found to contain cells which in a fermentable solution swell and resume their life functions.Like yeast juice yeast sterilised by treatment with acetone or by age is incapable of fermenting dilute sugar solutions all such preparations lacking the ability to concentrate peculiar to the living cells. Apparently E. S. Formation Of Acetaldehyde. E-MIL ABDERHALDEN (Ferment- T. H. P. T. H. P.VEGETABLE PHYSIOLOGY AND AGRICULTURE i. 93 owing to its simpler and more independent relation to the proto- plasm the carboxylase of dried yeast is able to exert its activity before the whole of tix water necessary for the complete vital functions has been absorbed. The results of various experiments with maceration juice are described these dealing with the kinetics of the fermentation with the persistence both of the fermentative activity and of the carb- oxylase of the juice with the oxygen absorbed by the juice and with kinetic measurements on mixtures containing pyruvic acid dipotassium hydrogen phosphate and maceration juice.The fermentative ability and the power to absorb oxygen fall gradually to zero together. Organic Nitrogen as a Possible Factor in Stimulation of Yeast. WILLIAX D. FLENING ( J . BioZ. @hem. 1921 49 119-122).-The ;,timulation of yeast growth is not due to water-soluble vitamin-B for it persists after the rice extracts have been evaporated wit'h 10% sodium hydroxide to inactivate the vitamin. The stimulation is due to organic nitrogen (cf. Fulmer Nelson and Sherwood .I. 1921 i 292). Comparative Experiments on the Inhibitive Action of some Chlorine Derivatives of Methane Ethane and Ethylene on Fermentation. H.PLAGGE (Biochem. Zeitsch. 1921 118 129-143).-~m-Dichloro- and ap-dichloro-ethane dichloromethane chloroform and tetrachloroethane are toxic to the yeast-cell. The determining factor is not the concentration of t'he solution but the actual dose administered. Fermentation without Yeast. EXIL BAUR and EUGEN HERZFELD (Ijiochem. Z. 1921 117 96-112).-&1ixtures of sub- stances in imitation of yeast press juice (peptone dextrose dextrin sodium hydrogen carbonatc casein lipoid and bile salts) produced carbon dioxide and alcohol (iodoform test) in small amounts The lormation of acid substances from dextrose liberating carbon dioxide from the sodium hydrogen carbonate only accounts for a portion of the gas formed.Behaviour of Diastase and other Enzymes under Ufdavour- able Conditions. Action of some Nitrogenous Compounds on Germination. TH. BOEORNY (Bied. Zentr. 1921 50 429- 430).-Brief reference is made to the effect of acids bases salts of heavy metals etc. on such enzymes as diastase invertase pepsin myrosin and trypsin. From an examination of the effect of urea hippuric acid am- monium salts and sodium nitratc on germination it is shown that nutrient materials are injurious if used a t too high a concentration. D. H. WESTER (Biochem. Z. 1921 118 168-163).-The manganese content of the seeds of 48 species of plants was determined the quantity of T. H. P. Vitamine Content of Rice by the Yeast Method. G. B. H. I<. H. K. W. G . The Manganese Content of (Dutch) Seeds.i.94 ABSTRACTS OF CHEMICAL PAPERS. metal generally present being between 2 and 6 mg. in 100 grams of dried material. H. K. Is it Possible to Determine the Value of Seeds by a Bio- chemical Method? ANTOIKE N ~ E C and FRANQOIS DUCHO~ (Compt. rend. 1921 173 933-935).-The activity of the various hydrolysing enzymes such as amylase invertase glycerophos- phatase lipase urease uricase and phytopsoteases of seeds dimin- ishes with the germination capacity of the seeds but is still marked when the latter has reached zero. Catalase is different and there is some indication that the activity of the catalase measured under comparable conditions may represent a suitable means for determin- ing rapidly and simply the agricultural value of seeds. E. CHEMIN (Compt. rend.1921 173 1014-1016).-Further experiments are given in support of the view that plant roots do not excrete any sensible amount of acids other than carbonic acid and that the excretion of the latter is sufficient to explain the corrosion of marble. W. G. Corrosive Action of Roots on Marble. W. G . The Part Played by Lipoids in the Metabolism of Plant Cells. FRIEDRICH BOAS (Biochem. Z. 1921 117 166-214).- The influence of saponin and salts was investigated on the growth of yeast and the course of fermentation. The action of these agents is similar to their known action on animal cells the com- bined action leading to destruction of the cell. The anions and kations of the salts influence the colloidal state of the cell wall and follow the lyotrope series. The Effect of Neutral Salts on the Heat Coagulation of Plant Protoplasm.HUGO KAZRO (Biochem. Z. 1921 11'7 87-95).-Both ions of neutral salts play a part in the heat coagula- tion of the protoplasm of the epidermal cells of Trade.scuntia xebrina. The coagulation is accelerated by anions arranged in the lyotropic series. Neutral salts which penetrate the plasma membranes most readily have the greatest lowering effect on the temperature of coagulation. H. K. The Relation between Fluorescent Substances which Act in the bark and their Photodynamic Activity on Cells. A. JODLBAUER and F. HAFFNER (Biochem. Z. 1921 118 150- 157) .-A large number of fluorescent and non-fluorescent substances of known photodynamic action on cells (for example paramoecia) have been examined in respect of their action in the dark on the hzemolysis of erythrocytes a t room temperature and a t 56" and in the flocculating property on the colloidal contents of hzmolysed corpuscles a t 56".In general there is a parallelism between the two actions. H. K. Rhythmic Precipitation Phenomena in Cell Membranes of Plants. HANS PETER MOLLER (Kolloid Chem. Beihefte 1021 14 97-146).-When wheat grains which have been cut are treated with a solution of silver nitrate bands and layers are formed a t H. K.VEGETABLE PHYSIOLOGY AND AGRICWLTVRE. i. 95 right angles to the direction of diffusion in the membranes of the aleurone cells and in the nucellus layer which are identical with the zones discovered by Liesegang in artificial colloids. The identity between the rhythmic precipitation in plant cells and Liesegang’s rings and zones is proved (1) by the form and appear- ance of the bands and (2) by the fact that the effect of external agencies is the same in both cases.In both cases the rhythmic precipitation of silver nitrate occurs after a region of formless preci- pitate ; zones are produced which increase in width and distance apart with increasing distance from the centre of diffusion. With increas- ing width the formation of grains occurs and the edges of the zones become indistinct the space between the zones becomes tlurbid and finally the rhytlimic zone formation passes over into an irregular granular precipitate. Fick’s law of diffusion is approxi- mately applicable to the diffusion of silver nitrate in wheat grains the water content of the membrane its content on silver nitrate and the concentration of silver nitrate have the same influence as in the diffusion into jellies.The formation of a rhythmic pre- cipitation depends on the velocity of diffusion of silver nitrate. The zone formation commences so much nearer to the centre of diffusion the smaller the concentration of silver nitrate and the lower the temperature. The velocity of invasion of the silver is of equal importance which apart from the concentration of silver nitrate is influenced by the content of the cell walls on silver pre- cipitating salts and wa,tor. In wheat grains a larger and smaller rhythm cannot be detected. The dinensions of the width and distance between the bands are the same for plant cells which have had a previous treatment with silver nitrate and those which have not been so treated.The grains of other cereals and the leaves of many plants show a similar zone formation when treated with silver nitrate so that it may be assumed that the cellulose membranes of plants in general are capable of showing rhythmic precipitation when the necessary external conditions are obtained. From the experiments it follows that the pure cellulose membranes of the wheat grain which show rhythmic precipitation cannot be regarded as a selective permeable layer and it further follows that the woody integument layer of the sheath of the wheat grain is the selective permeable i~ernbranc. The Distribution of Manganese in the Organism of Higher Plants. GABRIEL BERTRAND and (MATE) M.ROSENBLATT (Compt. rend. 1921 173 1118-1120).-From a study of the dis- tribution of manganese in the different parts of a dicotyledon Nicotiana rustica L. and of a monocotyledon Lilium lancefolium rubrum it is shown that those organs in which chemical changes are the most intense contain the highest percentages of manganese. The seeds contain a high proportion of manganese doubtless for the use of the future seedling. Lumbang Oil (Candlenut Oil). AUGUSTUS P. WEST and ZOILA MONTES (PhiZippine J . Sci. 1921 18 619-636).-The oil is obtained from the nuts of Aleurites molucmnu and has the following J. F. S. W. G.i. 96 ABSTRACTS OF CHEMICAL PAPEBS. composition glyceryl linolenate 6.5y0 glyceryl linolate 33*4y0 glyceryl oleate 56.9y0 glycerides of solid acids 2.8%.It is insoluble in cold ethyl and methyl alcohols and acetic acid. The oil behaves in much the same manner as linseed oil on oxidation. It is an excellent drying oil. 3'. E. POWER and V. K. CHESNUT (J. Amer. Chem. Soc. 1921 43 1741; cf. A. 1920 i 653).-Inasmuch as esters derived from leucic acid do not occur in apples (Zoc. cit.) the title of a paper by Kodams on this subject Characteristics and Utilisation of Beech Nut Oil. H. B. (Mat. grasses 1921 13 5860-5881).-The oil contenh of beech nuts varies from 14 to 2274. The constants of Ghe oil are d15 0.9205 iodine number 104.4 bromine number 0.652 heat developed with sul- phuric acid + 65" polariscope reading -0.8" in saccharimeter degrees refractometer reading +I605 to 3-1s". The oil is edible and may be kept without change for a long time.The cake from the nuts gave the following analysis decorticated cake water 1 2 . 5 ~ o O i l 7*5y0 nitrogenous matter 37.1 yo non-nitrogenous extract 29.7% cellulose 5.5yo ash 7.7% ; non-decorticated cake water 19.1 yo oil 8'34y0 nitrogenous matter 1S*15yo non-nitrogenous extract 28.39Y0 cellulose 21)-89 yo ash 5-13 yo. The non-decorticated cake is poisonous. CHEMICAL ABSTRACTS. JEAN RIPERT (Compt. rend. 1921 173 928-930).-Belladonna plants grown in obscurity show an increase in alkaloid content both in the leaves and in the stems whilst the amount in the roots diminishes very slightly. When the plants are returned to sunlight the values €or the leaves return to a practically normal figure after thirteen days. The protein content of the leaves also increases considerably when the plants are kept in the dark.F. M. ANDREWS (Proc. Ind. Scad. Sci. 1917 167).-The anthocyanin of B. vulgaris affords one of the examples where the pigment forms in the subterranean parts. A st'rong solution of such anthocyanin mill preserve its normal colour in it test-tube placed in darkness for more than a week. In direct sunlight it will retain its normal bright colour for a week or more until disorganised by bacterial action which change finally occurs in tthe anthocyanin solution in the dark. H. C. R. The Odorous Constituents of Apples. (cf. A. 1921 i 220) is misleading. w. G. The Biology of the Alkaloids of Belladonna. W. G. Anthocyanin of Beta wzdgaris. CHEMICAL ABSTRACTS. Formation of the Wed Pigment of Beta vulgaris by Oxida- tion of the Chromogens.ANTOINE KOZLOWSKI (Compt. rend. 1921 173 855-8~7).-Details are given for the extraction of the chromogens from beetroot by alcohol and for their subsequent purification and isolation. The chromogens extracted from the white sugar- beet resemble saponins in certain of their physico- chemical properties and on oxidation give 8 coloured pigmentVEGETABLE PHYSIOLOGY AND ABRI-TTURE. i. 97 having the same spectroscopic characteristics as the red pigment extracted from red beetroots and showing similar colour changes with acids and alkalis. Transformation by Oxidation of the Chromogens of some Plants into a Red Pigment. ST. JONESCO (Compt. rend. 1921 173 1006-1009).-The yellow chromogens extracted from such plants as Cobcea scandens and Ampclopsis hederacea on oxida- tion in amyl alcoholic solution with sulphuric acid and manganese dioxide a t 50-60" give a violet-red pigment.I n the case of the chromogens from Ampelopsis reduction was tried but red pigments were not obtained. The results obtained confirm those of Koz- lowski on beetroot pigments (preceding abstract) that the appear- ance of red pigments in plants is due to oxidation and not to reduction phenomena. W. G. Formation of Anthocyanin in the Flowers of Cobcea scandens at the Expense of Pre-existing Glucosides. ST. JONESCO (Compt. rend. 1921 173 850-852).-Contrary to the results of Rose (A. 1914 i 639) experimental evidence is given to show that the anthocyanin glucosides in the flowers of CobcFa scandens are formed a t the expense of pre-existing glucosides and consequently Combes's hypothesis as to the formation of antho- cyanin (cf.A. 1909 ii 426) is incorrect. The Effect of Daylight on the Content of Active Material in Digitalis. OTTO VON DAFERT ( B i d Zentr. 1921 50 422- 425).-The toxicity of the extract from Digitalis leaves depends on the time of day a t which the leaves are gathered and how and when the leaves are killed. To obtain the most toxic extract the leaves should be gathered in the afternoon and immediately The Occurrence of Methyl Anthranilate in Grape Juice. FREDERICK B. POWER and VICTOR K. CHESNUT ( J . Amer. Chem. Soc. 1921 43 1741-P742).-Methyl anthranilate is a natural and apparently constant constituent of grape juice. Its presence therefore in a commercial grape juice must not necessarily be taken as an indication of adulteration. Grape Oil from the Canadian Vine (Vitis hederacea).(Boll. CLSSOC. ital. piante med. aromat. 2 56-59; Bull. Agr. Intelli- gence 1919 10 1004-1005).-Two oils were extracted (1) from the pips a dark yellow or green oil with sweet taste and nutty odour d15 0.9215 n15 1.4778 saponification number 189.2-189.6 iodine number 131-4-141-6 fixed fatty acids 93-97y0 volatile fatty acids O% and non-saponifiable substances 1.44y0. The total fat%y acids have iodine number 144.6 and mean molecular weight 281.2. Solid fatty acids consisting chiefly of palmitic acid do not exceed 3y0 have a mean molecular weight of 261-4 and m. p. 57.6". The liquid fatty acids are chiefly oleic and linoleic acids with iodine number 14843-149.9; (2) from the pulp and skin an olive-green soft pasty oil with astringent taste and pleasant odour turning rancid in the air n15 1.4722 saponification number 192.3-193.3 iodine W.G. W. G. killed by plunging them into 96% alcohol. w. G . W. G.i. 98 ABSTRACTS OF CHEMICAL PAPERS number 90.3 fixed fatty acids gay0 volatile fatty acids O% and unsaponifiable substances 1.67%. The total fatty acids have iodine number 94.4-94.6 and mean molecular weight 278.8. The solid fatty acids are about 10% of the pulp and skin oil chiefly palmitic acid. The liquid fatty acids are mostly oleic and linoleic acids with iodine number 1 10.2. Oil from the Seeds of Jatrophu Curms L. CLEMENS GRInlMe (Seifenfabr. 1921 41 513-515 ; from C'hem. Zentr.1921 iii 1035).-The seeds of Jatropha Curcas L . consist of 38% hard husk and 62% oil-bearing kernel. Analyses of the seeds are given. Fn spite of the high protlein content 48.13% thc seeds are unsuitable for use as a feeding stuff on account of the presence of highly poisonous curcine. A complete description is given with constants of the oil obtained by extraction hot pressure and cold pressure respectively. The principal constants are d15 0.9213- 0.9228; m. p. 5-8"; 12:; 1.4610-1-4618; acid number 3-18- 4.05; iodine number (Wijs) 96*7-98.8. The fatty acids are white to yellow in colour and have m. p. 15-18'. The oil helongs to the class of non-drying oils and consists of the glycerides of palmitic myristic and curm?zoZic acids. The latter is a hydroxy-acid like ricinolic acid. The seeds contain a lipolytic enzyme which how- ever is not so energetic as the enzyme in Ricinus seeds.CHEMICAL ABSTRACTS. G. W. R. Iodine in the Lamitauria. P. FREUNDLER (MLLE) Y. MENAGER and (MLLE) Y. LAURENT (Compt. rend. 1921 173 931-932).- An examination of the iodine content of certain species of Laminaria shows that they lose a certain amount of iodine during drying the loss amounting in some cases t o as much as 50%. The iodine content is dependent on the time of harvesting being higher in July than in March. It is independent of the place of growth but varies with the age of the tissues being highest in the youngest tissues. The variations with different parts of the plant are not uniform but differ with the species. P. FREUNDLER (MLLE) Y.MENAGER and (MLLE) Y. LAURENT (C'oinpt. rend. 1921 173 Z 116-1 118 ; cf. preceding abstract).-The authors have correlated the variation in iodine content of the Laminaria with their bio- logical evolution and show that the maxima for iodine content as well as for the percentages of reserve carbohydrates and brown pigments coincide with the period of maximum sunshine. The Laminaria regularly restore to the sea it certain amount of their iodine under conditions which depend for each species on their mode of growth. W. G. YOSHITORA IWAMOTO ( J . Chem. Ind. Japan 1921 24 1143-1160).-A yellow- ish-brown oil is obtained by pressure or extraction of the seed of " Tohaku," Lindera obstiroba B. L. which is widely diffused in Corea. Its physical and chemical constants were determined.Decoic lauric and oleic acids and an acid C12H2P02 which occurs W. G. The Composition of the Laminaria. Properties and Composition of Tohaku Oil.VEGETABLE PHYSIOLOGY AND AGRICULTURE. i. 99 in cochineal fat were identified. Some of the lower unsaturated liquid and solid fatty acids seem to be present but linolic linolenic stearic and palmitic acids are probably absent. K. K. The Proteins of the Alfalfa Plant Fucerne]. THOMAS B. OSBORNE ALFRED J. WAKEMAN and CHARLES S. LEAVENWORTH ( J . Biol. Chem. 1921 49 63-91).-The paper is mainly concerned with a technique for extracting plant proteins with as little change as possible. Fresh plants or plants frozen soon after cutting are ground very finely and pressed in a hydraulic press ; the undiluted juice contains 10% of solids.The addition of 20% of alcohol precipitates a colloid consisting of 70% of protein and calcium salts. The latter are extracted by dilute alcoholic hydrochloric acid which forms an insoluble hydrochloride of the protein. The latter is further purified by heating with dilute alkali hydroxide and reprecipitation. By successive extraction with water alcohol dilute aqueous alkali and hot alkaline alcohol practically all the cell contents can be extracted if the fresh plant is sufficiently thoroughly ground. Thirty-two per cent. of the solids of the plant containing only 56% of its nitrogen finally remains undissolved. The Odorous Constituents of Peaches. FREDERICK B. POWER and VICTOR K. CHESNUT (J. Arner. Chem. Xoc. 1921 43 1725-1739) .-An examination of the pulp of choice ripe peaches shows that the odorous constituents of the fruit consist chiefly of the linalyl esters of formic acetic valeric and octoic acids together with a considerable proportion of acetaldehyde and a very small amount of an aldehyde of higher molecular weight.It is probable that the volatile acids are present to some extent in a free state. No trace of hydrocyanic acid or benzaldehyde could be detected in the distillabe from peach pulp. The yield of essential oil was about 0*000’74~0 of the fresh pulp aqd the oil contained in addition to the linalyl esters a little acetaldehyde and furfuraldehyde probably some cadinene and a very small amount of an unidentified paraffin hydrocarbon. The essential oil is very unstable and on exposure to air for any length of time is converted into a black viscid mass and loses its original fragrance.The emanation from the entire ripe fruit contains a minute amount of acetaldehyde. W. G. Constituents of Phellodendron Amurense. K ~ T A R ~ S m o (Sci. Rep. Tohoku Imp. Univ. 1921 10 331-338).-The rind of Phellodendron Amurense contains berberine and fatty acids. These acids appear to exist uncombined with berberine and consist of palmitic acid linoleic acid and a small quantity of linolenic acid. A small quantity of a neutral substance was found in addition but was not identified. Two samples of phellodendron rind gave 2.473 Yo and 3.75% respectively of berberine (estimated as berberine acetone). G. W. R. The Cellulose Content of Pine Wood. PETER KLASON (Zelktoflchem.Abi”landlungen 1921 1 No. 5 105-114).-~oss and Bevan’s method cannot be used for the estimation of the cellulose G. B.i. 100 ABSTRACTS OF CHEMICAL PAPERS. content of pine wood. The author has investigated the action of a solution of 80 grams of sodium hydrogen sulphite and 500 C.C. of N-hydrochloric acid in one litre of water for varying periods of time at looo. After eight days the cellulose reaches a nearly constant value and with continued heating only slowly decreases (1.7% in 13 days). He finds 53% of cellulose in pine wood. The composition of woods of various ages is also investigated. CHEMICAL ABSTRACTS. Chemical Constituents of Pine Leaves. 11. ASTRID CLEVE VON EULER (Tekn. Tidsk. Kern. Berg. 1921 51 35-38 47-52).- A study of the non-fatty impurities insoluble in ethyl ether present in the crude fat of pine leaves.The material is more conveniently extracted by means of 93% methyl alcohol and is designated “crude gum.’’ It readily changes into an insoluble substance the change being facilitated by the presence of acids. A solution of the gum in sodium hydroxide showed marked changes when treated with carbon dioxide. Fractional precipitation of the alkaline solution of the gum with acids yielded coniferyl alcohol and dihydroxy-7-phenylpropyl alcohol ; the whole crude gum is tannin-like in character and is considered to consist of inter- mediates in the plant synthesis of tannins. CHEMICAL ABSTRACTS. The Organic Acids of Pyrus coronaria L. Rhus glabra L. and Acer saccharurn Marsh. CHARLES E.SANDO and H. H. BARTLETT ( J . Agric. Research 1921 22 221-229).-The organic acids of the wild American crab apple Pyrus coronaria L. smooth sumac Rhus glabra L. and sugar maple h e r saccharurn Marsh were investigated. In all cases the acid found was malic acid occurring in the form of the free acid in the first species the acid calcium salt in the second species and both acid and normal calcium salts in the third species. A pertain amount of gallic acid is also found in the second species. The substance known as “maple sand ” obtained in the preparation of sugar from the sugar maple is crude calcium malate. It appears that succinic acid may be formed autolytically from the malic acid of Pyrus coronaria. G. W. R. Volatile Substances from the Bark of Rhamnus frangula. 0. A. OESTEBLE (Schweix. ApotR.-Zeit. 1921 59 341-345 ; from Chem. Zentr. 1921 iii 73&-735).-By steam distillation of the bark of Rhamnus franguka 0.05-0.1 yo was obtained of a substance of unpleasant odour which contained in addition to dark coloured impurities a white substance insoluble in sodium carbonate crystallising from chloroform-light petroleum in long needles a compound obtained as a gelatinous precipitate from hot sodium hydroxide solution a substance crystallising from hot water in slender ray-like aggregates and a main portion consisting of brownish-yellow platelets with a green tinge crystallising from &lute ethyl alcohol The latter substance is tasteless and odourless and has the empirical formula C,,H,,Og It is easily soluble in organic solvents and has m. p. 100-101 . G. W. R.