VEGETABLE PHYSIOLOGY AND AGRICULTURE. 123 Chemistry of Vegetable Physiology and Agriculture. Actionof Chlorine in the Tubercle Bacillus. Moussu and GOUPIL (Compt. rend. 1907,145,1231-1 232).-The resistance t o acids of the various constituents of the tubercle bacillus is one of its charac- teristic properties and this is not destroyed by various reagents which destroy the bacilli (alcohol ether chloroform light petroleum potass- ium hydroxide &c.). Exposure to chlorine however breaks up the bacilli and they lose then their acid-resisting property. W D. H. Phosphorus in the Fat of Micro-Organisms. E. ALILAIRE (Conzpt. rend. 1907 145 1215-1317).-The fatty matter of numerous micro-organisms contains phosphorus. The only exception found was Chlorelh vulgaris in which the total amount of f a t is small and chlorophyll is abundant.On the supposition that lecithin is present the iodine test for choline after saponification mas tried but with negative results. W. D. H. Influence of Organic Matter on Nitrification in Impure Cultures. ADA% KARPI~SKI and BR. NIKLEWSKI (Rul. Acad. Xci. Cracow 1907 596-615).-The presence of small amounts of some organic substances is favourable to nitrification in mixed cultures ; soil extracts humates and acetates were found to be favourable and even peptone and sugar in small quantities quickened nitrification in the first generations. The strength of solutions does not seem t o be of much importance favourable eff ecta being produced especially in the case of humates by extremely small amounts. N. H.J. M.124 ABSTRACTS OF CHEMICAL PAPERS. Microbiochemical Formation of Ammonia in Soil. RENATO PEROTTI ( A t t i R. Accad. Lincei 19U7 [v] 16 ii 704 -709. Compare Abstr. 1906 ii 304). -Calcium cyanamide undergoes a biochemical change in soil its nitrogen being converted into ammonia whilst dicyanodiamide does not undergo this chaoge but is utilised directly by various organisms. The explanation of this difference in bebaviour seems to lie in the fact that calcium cyannmide is poisonous i n nature whilst dicyanodiamide in moderate concentrations is not. When the dicyanodiamide is increased in concentration to such a n extent as to render it poisonous the soil bacteria attack it converting its nitrogen into ammonia. Favourable Influence of Small Quantities of Zinc in the Growth of Sterigmatocystis nigra.MAURICE JAVILLIER (Compt. Tend. 1907 145 1212-1215).-Raulin in 1870 described the favouring influence of small quantities of zinc on the mould mentioned above known also as AsyergilEus niyer. Coupin attributed this to the antiseptic action of t h e zinc preventing the growth of other micro- organisms. The present research coufirms Raulin's view that zinc is of real nutritive importance. The Organic Compounds of Nitrogen Phosphorus and Sulphur in Vegetables. ALBEET STUTZEH (Biochem. Zeituch. 190 7 471-487).-A method for the estimation of phosphorus and sulphur in orgatric union (as lecithin &c.) in vegetable tissues is described. Schulze's observatioiis on the value of orgauic phosphorus compounds in plants and especialIy in seeds are confirmed.After gastric digestion of vegetables the in*olu ble residue contains nitrogen phosphorus and sulphur in organic combination but the proportion of the three elements varies. The same is true for the fawes of sheep fed on various vegetables. The nature of the organic sulphur compounds is not known. EDMUND 0. VON LIPPMANN (Ber. 1907 40 4936-4937).-An appreciable amount of crystallihed quercitol was found between the woud and the bark of a recently felled oak. T. H. P. W. D. H. W. D. H. Occurrence of Quercitol. J. J. S. Occurrence of Salts of Anhydroxymethylenediphosphoric Acid or Phytin in Planta UMETARO ~ U Z U K I and K. YOSHIMURA (Bull. CoEl. Ayri. T6ky6 1907 7 493-502).-The amount of organic phosphorus soluble in 0.2% hydrochloric acid represents approximately the amount of phytin present in plants.The following results (per cent. in dry matter) were obtained Phosphorus Total. Rice bran ........................ 2.27 Wheat bran .................... 1'114 Seeds of Sesamum indieum ... 0.772 Seeds of IZicinus communis .. 0'261 011 cake (Brassica n a p s ) ...... 1.195 Barley bran ........................ 0.541 Bran from Paniczcm frzcment. 0.765 as lecithin. 0.02 0.010 0.030 0.013 0.034 0'010 0.026 Soluble in 0'2% HCll Organic. 1.68 0.579 0.1 25 0.109 0.532 0.344 o 238 Inorganic. 0 9 3 0-050 trace trace trace 0.089 traceVEGETABLE PHTSIOLOGY AND AGRICULTURE. 125 Preparations from rice bran which amounted to 743% of the dry matter gave the following results loss on ignition 27.31 ; P 23.48 &lg 17.48 and Ca 5.18%. Pectins from the Fruits of Lonicera Xylosteum Symphori- carpus Racemosa and Tamus Communis.MARC BRIDEL (J. Phaiwz. Chim. 1907 [vi] 26 536-543).-The pectins obtairied from Lonicercc Symphoricurpus and Tarnus by Bourquelot and HBrissey's method (ibid. 1898 [vi] 7 473) gave aD +183*36" +190.9" and + 111.42O (200 mm.) respectively. All three yield muck acid when treated with nitric acid are coagulated by barium and calcium hydroxides rtnd by pectase and are rendered incoagulable by malt pectase. The pectin from Lonicera Xplosteum yielded arabinose when hydrolysed with sulphuric acid N. H. 5. M. N. H. J. M. Composition of Tea Leaves at Various Stages of Develop- ment. SHIN SAWAMURA (BuZ2. Imp. Centr. Agric. Exper. Stat. Japan 1907 1 145-146.Compare Kellner Abstr. 1887 73).-The relative weights of the first second third and fourth leaves and the twigs were 100 203 412 577 and 717 and they contained respectively 72-48 71.98 73.28 74.54 and 83.91% of water. The composition of the dry matter mas as follows Ether 37-free Crude Pure extract. extract. fibre. Theine. Tannin. N. ash. 1. 6.91 18'40 10-87 3.578 13.97 7'545 4.969 2. 7.90 13'65 10'90 3-559 16'96 6.727 4988 3. 11.35 18.50 12'25 3.232 15-78 6-294 4'867 4. 11-43 20'73 14'75 2.570 15.44 5'504 4.935 5. 8.03 26.96 17.08 2-146 11'14 5'112 6'249 N. H. J. 15. Carbohydrate Metabolism of the Sugar Beet (Beta vulgaris). SIEGFRIED STRAKOSCH (Zeitscl.. Ver. deut . Zuckerind. 1907 623 1057-1068).-The author's results are briefly as follows. Dextrose is formed in the mesophyll of the whole surface of the leaves of Beta vulgaris and is the only sugar found in the mesophyll.The migration of dextrose into the leaf veins is followed by the appearance of lzvulose therein and later by the formation of sucrose. The formation of starch in the chlorophyll granules occurs subsequently to the production of sucrose from its components and only after the carbohydrates have accumulated to some extent in the mesophyll. Evidence is obtained in support of the view that the sucrose in the leaves of the beet must be regarded as the final product and that it migrates to the root as such. The conversion of the monosaccharides of the leaf into sucrose is connected with the action of light and ceases when the leaf is placed in the dark.The amount of the mono- saccharides in the leaf is not appreciably altered by the migration of the sucrose into the root. This amount is not perceptibly diminished when the leaves remain in the dark for a long time neither does pro- longed exposure of the leaves to the action of light cause it to increase beyond a certain maximum attained in a short time. T. H. P. VOL. XCIV. ii. 9126 ABSTRACTS OF CHEMICAL PAPERS Darkening of Beet Juice. MAX GONNERMANN (Zeitsch. r e i s . deut. Zuckerind. 1907 623 1068-1 087. Compare Abstr. 1899 ii 790).-Sugnr beet juice contains organic ferrous salts tyrosinase and catechol the last named being probably formed by the action of tyrosinase on tyrosine. These substances produce no colouring matter in absence of air but access of the latter to the liquid causes rapid darkening especially if a trace of ammonia is present.The author has isolated catechol from the juice. T. H. P. The Most Favourable Ratio of Lime to Magnesia for the Mulberry Tree. M. NAKAMURA (BUZZ. Imp. Centr. Agric. Exper. Stat. Japan 1907 1 129-133).-The best ratio for mulberry trees was found in accordance with previous observations by As. to be CaO/MgO = 3/1 N. H. J. BE. Influence of Stimulating Compounds on Cropa under Different Conditions. S. UCHIYAMA (Bull. Imp. Centr. Agm'c. Exper. Stat. Japan 1907 1 37-79).-A large number of plot experiments are described in which various plants were grown with- out and with manganese sulphate. The soil was a diluvial loam rich in organic matter and contained 0.076% Mn,O soluble in 1% citric acid and 0.413% soluble in hot 10% hydrogen chloride. In the caseof wheat and barley very little effect mas produced by manganese sulphate whilst grasses buckwheat radishes carrots Bvassica campegtyis and tea plants were considerably benefited.Ferrous sulphate was also found to be beneficial in some cases but less so than manganese. I n some cases a mixture of the two sulphates gave the best results. The amounts of manganese sulphate varied from 10 to 37.5 kilos. per hectare (reckoned as Mn,?,). Better results were obtained when it was applied as a top dressing than with the other manures. Further experiments in which plants grown in bottomless cylinders received varying amounts of manganese sulphate showed in each case a more or less stimulating action.In the case of barley the grain and total yield were increased 18% and 24% respectively by 25 kilos. of &ln,04 per hectare both smaller and larger applications producing less effect. The effect of manganese depends to some extent on the nature of the soil being greater on loam than on sandy soil; the effect is diminished by a1 kaline manures. Potassium iodide increased the yield of Panicum miliuceum (28%) and of barley (34%) the most suitable amounts being 376 and 500 grams per hectare respectively. Sodium fluoride has a powerfully stimulating action on Panicum and also increased the yield of barley ; the amounts of fluoride applied were 940 and 5000 grams per hectare N. H. J. M. Distribution of Solute Between Water and Soil. PRANK K. CAMERON and HARRISON E.PATTEN (J. Physicacl Chent. 1907 11 681-593).-The authors have studied the distribution of various solutes (gentian-violet sodium eosin manure extract) between water and various soils. The distribution of solute between solvent and absorbent presents the same general characteristics with soils as wlthVEGETABLE Pm’sIoLocP ASD AGRICULTURE. I 2 7 other absorbents.- For any series of soils or other absorbents the order of the absorptive capacities for one solute may be quite different from the order for another solute The distribution of a solute between solvent and absorbent may generally be represented by the formula C?z/C = K where n may be less than equal to or greater than unity. When soils however are the absorbents the flocculation introduces a modifying factor and the form of the distribution equation may become more complex. SHIGEHIRO SUZUKI (BUZZ.COX Agric. Tokio 1907,7,513-529. Compare ibid. 419 and Abstr. 1906 ii 889).-Tiie nitrogen of humus is mainly in the form of a kind of protein only traces of amino-acids being present. Udrhszky’s artificial nitrogenous humic acid obtained by boiling dextrose and urea with hydrochloric acid (Zeitsch. physiol. Chein. 1888 12 42) cannot therefore resemble natural humus. The following substances were obtained by treating humic acid (500 grams) with hot concentrated hydrochloric acid alanine 2.39 ; leucine 2.16 ; aminovaleric acid 0.57 ; impure aspartic acid 2.16 ; copper salts of active and inactive proline 0.67 and 0.50; copper salts of unknown acids 30.30 and ammonia 1.90 grams.Qlutamic acid tyrosine and histidine were also present. N. H. J. RI. J. C. P. Humus Formation. Sodium Nitrate Compared with Ammonium Sulphate. PAUL B~SSLER (Bied. Zentv. 1907 36,857 ; from .7arlLresber. Agrik-chem. Versuchs. u. Samenkontrollstat. Koslin 1905-1906 14).-The greatest effect with potatoes was produced when the manures were applied in two portions before planting and before the second hoeing. The two manures gave practically the same result. The warst results were obtained by applying the whole amount of the manures before planting ; ammonium sulphate produced considerably less effect than sodium nitrate. N. H. J. M. Behaviour of Nitrate in Paddy Soils. G. DAIKUHARA and T. IMASEKI (Bull. Imp Centr. Agric. Exper. Stat. Jccpan 1907 1 7-36.Compare Nagaoka Abstr. 1905 ii 837).-Results of determina- tions of dextrose and sucrose in paddy rice and in dry land rice at three or four periods ofLgrowth showed that the amount of sugar is practically the same and further that manuring with ammonium sulphate and sodium nitrate respectively has no effect on the sugar content. The low yields of rice obtained when nitrate is employed cannot therefore be due as suggested by Nitgaoka t o deficiency of sugar in paddy plants. The unsuitability of nitrate for paddy soils is due to loss of nitrogen by denitrification to the greater production of poisonous nitrites on paddy soils as compared with dry land and to loss of nitrates by the system of irrigation. Even in the case of dry land there may be some loss by denitrification in the subsoil; in rainy seasons when organic manures have been applied along with nitrate denitrification may be energetic in the subsoil and may also take place in the surface soil.9-2125 ABSTRACTS OF CHEMICAL PAPERS. When nitrates are applied t o paddy soils it is best t o avoid the use of organic manures unless in a well-rotted condition. N. H. J. M. Manurial Effect of Calcium Cyanamide under Different Conditions. s. UcHrYma (Bull. Imp. Centr. Agric. Exper. Stat. Jcipan 1907 1 93-103).-Pot experiments with barley and Brassicn canzpeslris in loamy and sandy soils. Calcium cyanaivide acts best under conditions approaching neutrality. Under favourable conditions it is equal t o ammonium sulphate ; the results were less favanable on sandy soil than on loam.Ammonium sulphate gave better results in conjunction with sodium phosphate than with superphospkate. Manuring with Bone Dust. S. UCHIYAMA (Bull. Imp. Ceittr. Agric. Exper. Stat. Japan 1907 1 105-120).-The results of sand- cuiture experiments with barley showed t h a t the availability of bone dust is diminished by magnesite and that it is less in conjunction with sodium nitrate than with ammonium sulphate. I n the case of sandy soil it was found that potassium sulphate and carbonate in presence of bone dust and sodium nitrate gave similar results. Wood ash and bone dust may therefore be used together. Bone dust (25 grams) kept in contact with water (2.5 litres) for four and a-half months showed an increase of 70% soluble P,O over the amount dissolved in the same time in presence of chloroform. The presence of potassium carbonate had a far greater effect than bacteria. N.H. J. M. N. H. J. M. Behaviour of Bone and Mineral Phosphates in Soil. CARLO MONTANART (Bied. Zenlr. 1907 36 797-801 ; from Stax. sper. agrcw. itat. 1906 39 323).-The absorptive power of soils for soluble phosphates depends on the amounts of alkaline earth carbon- ates of iron and aluminium oxides and especially of humus substances. The continued employment of phosphates diminishes the amount of alkaline earth carbonates in the soil di- and tri-phosphates being produced. There is also a diminution of alumina and iron oxide a withdrawal of the alkali of clay producing substances and consequently a diminution of the absorptive power of the soil and productiou of free silicic acid.N. H. J. M. Are Soils containing Iesa than 0.02% SO Benefited by Special Manuring with Sulphates 3 G. DAIKUHARA (BUZZ. Imp. Ceprtr. Agyic. Exper. Stat. Japan 1907 1 135-143).-Results of pot experiments in which barley was grown in three soils containing respectively 0.016 0.013 and 0*010% of sulyhuric acid (as SO,) showed that these amounts sufficed to meet the needs of barley. N. H. J. M. Influence of Solubility on Availability. G. DAIKUHARA (Bull. Imp. Centr. Ay~ic. Exper. Stat. Japan 1907 1 87-91. Compare Abstr. 1906 ii 388).-When calcium is present asANALYTICAL CHEMISTRI'. 129 carbonate the necessary amount of magnesium (as crystallised sulphate) for barley in sand culture is very small the best ratio of lime to magnesia being 60 1. I n water cultures containing calcium and magnesium nitrates the best ratio is between 1 1 and 2 1. This holds good for sandy soils whilst in clay soils the ratio CaCO MgSO mill vary (compare Nakamura Abstr. 1906 ii 389). I n the case of barley the agronomic equivalents of crystallised magnesium sulphate and msgnesite are as 4.9 100 ; with rice the equivalent is 9.8. G. DAIKUHARA (Bull. Imp. Centr. Agric. Ercpsr. Stat. Jchpan 1907 1 81-86).-Magnesium sulphate is the moqt effective magnesium compound to employ for regulating the lime factor and it is best to apply it annually as a top dressing in small quantities. On R loamy humus soil 10 parts of the salt (MgSO4,'7H,O) are agronomically equivalent to 100 parts of the finest-ground magnesite. N. H. J. M. Manuring with Magnesium Sulphate. N. H. J. M.