84 ABSTRACTS OF CHEMICAL PAPERS. Chemistry of Vegetable Physiology and Agriculture. Formation of Starch in the Cells of Plants excluded from Light. By JOSEF BOHM (Deut. Chem. Ges. Ber., x, 1804-1807).- By experiment upon plants of Phascohs muZti$orw, the author shows the common statement, that the starch of chlorophyll-grains is in all cases the product of an intrinsic synthesis from carbonic anhydride and water, to be fallacious. From the experiments in question follow two important positive conclusions : 1. That the formation of starch in chlorophyll-grains, is in many cases the result of a metamorphosis of bodies, not intrinsic to the cells in which this conversion takes place, but elaborated elsewhere by the plant; and 2. That this process of conversion is entirely independent of the action of light.c. F. c. Nitrogenous Constituents of Mangold - wurzel. By E. SCHUZE and A. U R ~ C H (Lrcndzo. Versuchs-stat., xx, 193-245).- I. T h e Amides of Mangold-juice.--In a former communication (this JoumaZ, 1876, i, 419) it was shown that beet-roots are richer in amides than in albuminoi'ds. Of the total nitrogen present in two varieties, 21-6-38.9 per cent. existed as albuminoids, and 34-47.7 per cent. as amides. Besides albumin, the only organic nitrogenous compound obtained from the juice was betaine, and a substance which, like asparagine, decomposed with formation of ammonia when the juice was boiled with hydrochloric acid ; asparagine, which is present in sugar-beet, was not detected in the mangolds. With a view of separating out the second nitrogenous substance above mentioned, the juice from beet- root was precipitated with a slight excess of lead acetate, and the precipitate so obtained was decomposed with hydrochloric acid.After precipitating the excess of hydrochloric acid with a concentrated solu- tion of lead acetate, and filtering off the chloride thus formed, the filtratewas saturated with lead acetate. When a bulky precipitate formed soluble in excess, this solution was mixed with a large quantity of al- cohol, whereupon the lead compounds separated out and were removed. On decomposing the lead salts with hydrosulphuric acid, and removing the last traces of hydrochloric acid with oxide of silver, the solution on concentration gave crystals of amido-acids. Finally these were separated into two different substances, A and B, the former, which separated out first, consisting of scaly crystals and sometimes regular tetrahedrons, while B, which separated from the last mother-liquors, crystallised in very thin soft laminae. These two substances were purified by conversion into copper salts, when, on decomposition with hydrosulphuric acid, the amido-acids were obtained in the pure state.A gave on analysis the formula, C5H,N04, corresponding with glu- tanic acid: the crystals melted at 188-190", which led to the suppo- sition that they consisted of some isomeric body, for glutamic acid melts at 135--140". On further investig&ion, however, the crystals were found to be identical with glutamic acid.VEGETABLE PHYSIOLOGY AND AGFRIOULTURE.85 B was found to consist of aspartic acid. Mangold-juice therefore contains, besides albumin and nitrates, the ammonium salts of glutamic acid and aspartic acid, together with betaine. It is probable that there is no other nitrogenous body pre- sent, except in traces. The juice from mangolds of 1875 gave on an average -0525 per cent. of amido-acids = 4.5-4-6 grms. of glutamic acid per litre. By Sachsse and Rormann's method it was always found that the nitrogen came out too high. The fresh matter of the root reduced to pulp gave :- I Roots of 1874. I Roots of 1875. Soluble albuminoids . Insoluble. .......... Qlutamine (and aspa- ragine) .......... Bet aine ............ Nitric acid ......... Ammonia .......... 0.2306 p. C. = 0.0369 p. C. N 0'0950 p. C. = 0.0152 ,, 0.4066p.c.= 0.0780 ,, 01359p.c. = 0.0161 ,, 03363p.c. = 00872 ,, 00080 p. C. = 0.0066 ,, 0.1413 p. C. = 0'0226 p. C. N. 0.1023p.c. = 0'0164 ,, 0.4425 p. C. = 00847 ,, 0 0 2 2 6 ~ . C. = 0.0027 ,, 0.2483~. C . = 00644 ,, 0 . 0 0 8 5 ~ . C . = 0.0071 ,, I Total.. .... 02400 p. c. N.1 Total.. .... 0.1979 p. C. N. [Note by Abstractor.-In 1874 experiments were made in the labo- ratory of the Agricultural College, Cirencester, upon the direct deter- mination of nitrogen existing in the form of albumin, contained in various roots. The albumin was precipitated in a warm solution with carbolic and tannic acids, in presence of alcohol ; a combustion was then made with the precipitate so obtained.] 11. Chnges of the Nitrogenous Constituents ilz the Xecond Year oj' Growth.-Pfeffer has proved that in seedlings the asparagine formed from albumin during germination, is afterwards reconverted into this substance (Larhdw.Verswhs-stat. v, 101). Experiments were made with beet-root to see whether the amides contained in it change in a similar manner, and also to determine the behaviour of the other nitro- genous constituents. Experimerbts of 1875.-Some beets of 1874 were planted in river sand freed from nitrogenous matter by washing and then heating to redness. The roots were kept under cover and watered with distilled water ; vegetation soon commenced, and although not vigorous, the stems reached a length of 50-55 centimeters, and blossoms formed, the leaves however being small. The total weight of vegetable matter produced, as was to be expected, was not great.For every 1,000 grams of root only 10.04 grams of dry substance (leaves, stems, &c.) was obtained ; this was very rich in nitrogen, containing on an average 6.59 per cent. The amount of nitrogen present in the roots before forcing was about -23 per cent., so that rather over one quarter of the total nitrogen had gone to the leaves, &c. While the roots lost a quantity of amides during growth, still no gain in albumin wag detected ; but as the experiments were carried out on a small scale only, too much reliance must not be placed on the86 ABSTRACTS O F CHEMICAL PAPERS. Existing as Existing as Existing as glutamine (and ammonia. amides. asparagine) . results. The action of the nitrates still remains undetermined. Of the total nitrogen present, 51 per cent.was in the form of amides. E’xperiments of l876.--Roots from the crop of 1875 were planted in good soil, and after growth the juice was expressed from them, and xnalysed with the following results :- Glutarnine (and usl)m@ne). Root 1 9 ) 2 )) 3 Y, 4 9 , 5 ,, 6 7, 7 7 9 8 7 ) 9 I ) 10 ,, 11 9 , 12 7, 13 ,, 14-16 ,, 17--19 ), 20-22 ,) 23-25 Per cent. 0 -0034 M a n . . . . Pcr cent. Per cent. Per wnt. 0 -0356 0 -0266 0.1388 Exist,ing as ammonia. Per cent. - - - - - - - 0 * 0092 0 -0077 0 ‘0049 0 ‘0071 0,0082 0 ‘0066 0 -0065 0 -00% - __ 0 ’0072“ Nitrogen. E xis t,ing amides. a9 Per cent. 0 ‘1166 0 *lo49 0 ’0094 0 -1179 0 -0871 0 -133’7 0 *0828 0 .0991 0 -1222 0 -0993 - - - - - - - 0 -1063 Existing gluhamine (and sparagine) Per cent.as - -_ - - - - - 0.0802 0 *1110 0 -0874 0 -0794 0 *0796 OdO$84 0 -0858 0 -0888 - - 0 -0864 2lu tamine (and sparagine) Per cent. - - - - - - - 0 *4182 0.5781 0 ‘4557 0 -4140 0 *4$151 0 ’4088 0 4474 0.4630 0 -1444 I n roots 14-16, 17-19, 20-22, and 23-25, thc samples were mixed. The fresh roots contained, in a mean of six determinations, *2483 per cent. of nitric acid (N20B) : a mean of three determinations gave -1023 per cent. of insoluble albumin-the percentage of the nihogen existing. as insoluble albumin was multiplied by the constant 6.25 to give this figure-and in the pulp 2*05-.797 per cent. of nitrogen was found. With roots grown from the seed, the fresh juice eontained, as a mean of five analyses :- Nitrogen. * = 0.0087 N&.YEGETABLE PHYSIOLOGY AND AGRICULTURE.87 Betaine was found to diminish in quantity as the roots grew ; for in an experiment made with roots containing -008 per cent. of betaine, hardly a trace could be detected after they had been planted and allowed to mature. The following table shows that but little nitric acid passes from the root to the leaves, &c., during growth, although a decided loss of this substance is observed. Weight of the Roots, in grams. Bcf ore planting. 1296 1211 963 After growth of leaves, kc. 1267 1164 918 Weight of the vegetable matter produced, dry. 11 -46 13 ‘83 8 *86 N,05 contained in the Root. Before planting. Per cent. 0 -21’71 0 -2231 0.2377 CLfter growth. Per cent. 0.1931 0 -1864 0 -1559 N,05 in dry vegetable mat(t er . 0 -05 trace 0.17 Corenwinder is making investigations similar to those above given, with which probably his results will be found to agree (Stammer, Ja,hresSer..f. Z&ixrfabrikation, Bd. vli, s. 88). The paper concludes with an analytical supplement, giving the author’s results in a tabular form ; the number of analyses performed is very large. Cultivation of the Rough-haired Soj a-bean (S’oja hispida, Moneh). By F. HABERLANDT (Landw. Versuchs-stat., xx, 241-272). -Although the soja-bean contains more nutritious material than other seeds of a like nature, its cultivation has been hitherto neglected in Europe. It is grown in the Malay Islands (Java), India, China, and Japan; and in the two latter is used as an every-day food. Seeds obtained from various sources were planted, and the plants were grown in three plots, each plant having a space of 4.03 square decimeters. R.C. W. Time of collecting seed June and September :- Plot No. I, brown-red rsriety, from China Plot No. 11, light yel- low variety, from China Plot, No. 111, light yel- low variety, from Mongolia :: I- l5 249 -2 336 -5 196 -9 105 -0 92 *5 81 *ti 154.5 148 -0 126 -0 1 -204 1 -190 1 -172 1 -233 1 -246 1 -24188 ABSTRACTS OF CHEMICAL PAPERS. On comparing these beans with the original from China and Mon- golia, they were found to be heavier and larger. The percentage increase in weight was for No. I, 54.7 ; No. 11, 47.1 ; No. 111, 60. The following table gives results obtained from plants produced from the original seeds, as well AS from those produced by replanting the beans thus yielded :- Size of plots in square meters } 9.60 9 -60 9 '90 4 '0 11 '0 4 -0 4 *5 Time of sow- ing } 25 Ap.25 Apr. 5 May 25 Apr. 5 May 25 Apr. 19 May 23 June 1 Oct. 278 3710 5 May 2 June 3 July 6 Nov. 70 570 2 June Sprouts shown Commence- ment of blos- soming Harvest.. . . . . 19 May } 26 June 26 Sept 19 May 20 June 1 Oct. 2 June 28 June 6 Nov. 52 19 May 26 June 6 Nov. 3 July 6 Nov. Number of plants yielded } 268 339 245 72 Weight of seed in grams } 2707 1950 650 2180 500 Weight of air- dried straw in grams } 4300 7270 4150 1920 5030 2410 2200 Nzmber of seeds from 1 plant }619 93 -3 40 *5 124 -4 80 -4 79.8 65 -7 Weight of 1000 air- dried seeds 163 *6 I 143 '0 141 -8 101 -6 110 *6 102 -0 105 9VEGETABLE PHTSIOLOGY AND AGRICULTURE. 89 I-e'llow variety from .Mongolia. Water ..............Protein ............. Fat. ................. Non-nitrogenous extrac tire matter. ....... Fibre ............... Ash ................ Yellow swiety from Chiaa. Water .............. Protein ............. Fat. ................ Non-nitrogenous extrac tive matter. ........ Fibre.. ............. Ash ................ , Brown-red variety from China. Water ............... Protein .............. Fat.. ................ Non-nitrogenous extrac- tive matter.. ....... Fibre. ............... Aph ................. General Analyses of Seeds. In 100 parts of the Air- dried Substance. 7 *14 32 -15 17 -10 32 *91 4 '58 5 -42 7 -96 31 *26 36 -21 34 -59 4 9 5 5 '23 '7 -46 33 *26 17 *45 31 "78 5 -31 4 *46 9 '36 32 -07 17 *59 31 -59 4 '48 4 -91 8 -62 34 *81 18 -53 28 -84 4 '37 4 '83 9 -78 33 *17 18 -42 29 *62 4 '02 4 *99 7 *89 32 -58 17 -49 - - - 7 '89 34 *97 18 -39 - - - 8 -68 32 -4'7 18 -05 - - - ?alculated on substance with 10 per cent.of Water. 10 '00 31 -41 16 -69 33 -14 4 '47 5 -29 10 *oo 30 '56 15 -81 33 -80 4 -6'7 5 -12 10 .oo 32 '35 16 *87 31 '00 5 *17 4 '34 10 '00 31 -85 1'7 '47 31 *35 4 -45 4 '88 10900 34 *3'7 18 2 5 28 '32 4 '30 4 -76 10 '00 33 -09 18 -38 29 -54 4 '01 4 -98 10 *oo 31 -90 17 '11 - - - 10 .OO 34 -33 18 '00 - - - 10 -0 22 -03 17 231 - - - These analyses correspond very closely with those made by Zenff in 1872. The soja is the richest in fat and oil of all beans. An analysis of the ash of the yellow variety from China, second re- production, gave (free from C and CO,) per cent. of- Fe203 and K20 Na20.CaO. MgO. A1,03. P206. SO3. C1. 8iOp 44-56 0.98 5-32 8.92 trace 36.89 2.70 0.27 trace90 ABSTRACTS OF CHEMICAL PAPERS. The air-dried seed contained 2.87 per cent. of ash, and dried 100” 3.14 per cent. The proportion of 1<,0 agrees with that in horse-beans, garden-beans, and peas. An analysis of the air-dried straw gave: moisture, 12-44 per cent. ; protein, 9.43 ; ether extract, 2.51 ; extractive matter free from nitrogen, 36-03 ; fibre, 29.45 ; ash, 10.14. 100 parts of the pure ash gave:- Fe20s and KPO. Na20. CaO. MgO. AlP03. P,O,. SO3. C1. SiO,. 15.41 2.18 14.47 15.42 0.75 9-32 6.37 0.16 5.41 The protein in this straw is about the same as in pea-straw, and The oil much more than in pea, bean, or lupine straw. The K20 in ash much less than in pea, bean, or lupine straw.The CaO and MgO in ash much more than in pea, bean, or lupine The P,O,in ash t,he same as in pea, bean, or lupine straw. The paper concludes with a seriee of tables on the temperature of twice as much as in the straw from lupine straw. the soils in which the bean was cultivated. R. C. W. Functions of Vine Leaves. By H. MACAGNO (Compt. rend., lxxxv, i63-765)-The leaves of the vine act as organs of secretion, more especially those a t the upper extremities of the fruit-bearing branches, secreting glucose and cream of tartar, which are conducted along the branches to the fruit, t o which they act as nutrients. This accounts for the occasional failure of the vine crops after the operation called “ pincement,” which consist in removing the ends of the fruit-bearing branches at the third or fourth leaf above the highest bunch of grapes.This operation, if carried on to too great an extent, especially where the production of grapes is abundant, does not leave a siifficient amount of leaves for the secretion of the quantity of‘ nutriment required by the fruit. L. T. 0’s. Influence of Gases on Fermentation. By OTTO NASSE (P’iige~’~ Archiv. f. Physiologie, xv, 471-481) .-Experiments were made on invertin as follows :-An ice-cold mixture of cane-sugar solution and invertin was divided into five parts, and through each of four of them a special kind of gas passed ; through the fifth common air. The mixtures were in all ca8ses subject to exactly similar con- ditions, and the results were :--inverted sugar amounted with oxygen and carbonic oxide, to 0 ; with hydrogen to 8 mgm., with C 0 2 to 20 mgru., and with air to 7 mgm.This last result was proved by a subsequent experiment to be partly due to the carbonic acid in the atmosphere. Experiments upon ptyalin and glycogen solution show that’ in this case the gases exert but slight influence over the power of the f ernient. The ferment was not in any case destroyed by the action of the gas. Applying this method of research t o muscular tissue, a larger amountAXALPTICAL CHEMISTRY. 91 of carbohydrates was found in muscle which had been kept in an atmosphere of carbonic acid, than in muscle left exposed to the air under otherwise similar conditions. F. J. L.84 ABSTRACTS OF CHEMICAL PAPERS.Chemistry of Vegetable Physiology and Agriculture.Formation of Starch in the Cells of Plants excluded fromLight.By JOSEF BOHM (Deut. Chem. Ges. Ber., x, 1804-1807).-By experiment upon plants of Phascohs muZti$orw, the author showsthe common statement, that the starch of chlorophyll-grains is in allcases the product of an intrinsic synthesis from carbonic anhydrideand water, to be fallacious. From the experiments in question followtwo important positive conclusions : 1. That the formation of starchin chlorophyll-grains, is in many cases the result of a metamorphosisof bodies, not intrinsic to the cells in which this conversion takes place,but elaborated elsewhere by the plant; and 2. That this process ofconversion is entirely independent of the action of light.c. F. c.Nitrogenous Constituents of Mangold - wurzel. By E.SCHUZE and A. U R ~ C H (Lrcndzo. Versuchs-stat., xx, 193-245).-I. T h e Amides of Mangold-juice.--In a former communication (thisJoumaZ, 1876, i, 419) it was shown that beet-roots are richer in amidesthan in albuminoi'ds. Of the total nitrogen present in two varieties,21-6-38.9 per cent. existed as albuminoids, and 34-47.7 per cent. asamides.Besides albumin, the only organic nitrogenous compound obtainedfrom the juice was betaine, and a substance which, like asparagine,decomposed with formation of ammonia when the juice was boiledwith hydrochloric acid ; asparagine, which is present in sugar-beet,was not detected in the mangolds. With a view of separating out thesecond nitrogenous substance above mentioned, the juice from beet-root was precipitated with a slight excess of lead acetate, and theprecipitate so obtained was decomposed with hydrochloric acid.Afterprecipitating the excess of hydrochloric acid with a concentrated solu-tion of lead acetate, and filtering off the chloride thus formed, thefiltratewas saturated with lead acetate. When a bulky precipitate formedsoluble in excess, this solution was mixed with a large quantity of al-cohol, whereupon the lead compounds separated out and were removed.On decomposing the lead salts with hydrosulphuric acid, and removingthe last traces of hydrochloric acid with oxide of silver, the solutionon concentration gave crystals of amido-acids. Finally these wereseparated into two different substances, A and B, the former, whichseparated out first, consisting of scaly crystals and sometimes regulartetrahedrons, while B, which separated from the last mother-liquors,crystallised in very thin soft laminae.These two substances werepurified by conversion into copper salts, when, on decomposition withhydrosulphuric acid, the amido-acids were obtained in the pure state.A gave on analysis the formula, C5H,N04, corresponding with glu-tanic acid: the crystals melted at 188-190", which led to the suppo-sition that they consisted of some isomeric body, for glutamic acidmelts at 135--140". On further investig&ion, however, the crystalswere found to be identical with glutamic acidVEGETABLE PHYSIOLOGY AND AGFRIOULTURE. 85B was found to consist of aspartic acid.Mangold-juice therefore contains, besides albumin and nitrates, theammonium salts of glutamic acid and aspartic acid, together withbetaine.It is probable that there is no other nitrogenous body pre-sent, except in traces. The juice from mangolds of 1875 gave on anaverage -0525 per cent. of amido-acids = 4.5-4-6 grms. of glutamicacid per litre. By Sachsse and Rormann's method it was alwaysfound that the nitrogen came out too high.The fresh matter of the root reduced to pulp gave :-I Roots of 1874. I Roots of 1875.Soluble albuminoids .Insoluble. ..........Qlutamine (and aspa-ragine) ..........Bet aine ............Nitric acid .........Ammonia ..........0.2306 p. C. = 0.0369 p. C. N0'0950 p.C. = 0.0152 ,,0.4066p.c. = 0.0780 ,,01359p.c. = 0.0161 ,,03363p.c. = 00872 ,,00080 p. C. = 0.0066 ,,0.1413 p. C. = 0'0226 p. C. N.0.1023p.c. = 0'0164 ,,0.4425 p. C. = 00847 ,,0 0 2 2 6 ~ . C. = 0.0027 ,,0.2483~. C . = 00644 ,,0 . 0 0 8 5 ~ . C . = 0.0071 ,, I Total.. .... 02400 p. c. N.1 Total.. .... 0.1979 p. C. N.[Note by Abstractor.-In 1874 experiments were made in the labo-ratory of the Agricultural College, Cirencester, upon the direct deter-mination of nitrogen existing in the form of albumin, contained invarious roots. The albumin was precipitated in a warm solution withcarbolic and tannic acids, in presence of alcohol ; a combustion wasthen made with the precipitate so obtained.]11. Chnges of the Nitrogenous Constituents ilz the Xecond Year oj'Growth.-Pfeffer has proved that in seedlings the asparagine formedfrom albumin during germination, is afterwards reconverted into thissubstance (Larhdw.Verswhs-stat. v, 101). Experiments were madewith beet-root to see whether the amides contained in it change in asimilar manner, and also to determine the behaviour of the other nitro-genous constituents.Experimerbts of 1875.-Some beets of 1874 were planted in riversand freed from nitrogenous matter by washing and then heating toredness. The roots were kept under cover and watered with distilledwater ; vegetation soon commenced, and although not vigorous, thestems reached a length of 50-55 centimeters, and blossoms formed,the leaves however being small. The total weight of vegetable matterproduced, as was to be expected, was not great.For every 1,000grams of root only 10.04 grams of dry substance (leaves, stems, &c.)was obtained ; this was very rich in nitrogen, containing on an average6.59 per cent. The amount of nitrogen present in the roots beforeforcing was about -23 per cent., so that rather over one quarter of thetotal nitrogen had gone to the leaves, &c.While the roots lost a quantity of amides during growth, still nogain in albumin wag detected ; but as the experiments were carried outon a small scale only, too much reliance must not be placed on th86 ABSTRACTS O F CHEMICAL PAPERS.Existing as Existing as Existing as glutamine (andammonia. amides. asparagine) .results. The action of the nitrates still remains undetermined.Ofthe total nitrogen present, 51 per cent. was in the form of amides.E’xperiments of l876.--Roots from the crop of 1875 were planted ingood soil, and after growth the juice was expressed from them, andxnalysed with the following results :-Glutarnine (andusl)m@ne).Root 19 ) 2)) 3Y, 49 , 5,, 67, 77 9 87 ) 9I ) 10,, 119 , 127, 13 ,, 14-16,, 17--19), 20-22,) 23-25Per cent.0 -0034M a n . . . .Pcr cent. Per cent. Per wnt.0 -0356 0 -0266 0.1388Exist,ingasammonia.Per cent. -------0 * 00920 -00770 ‘00490 ‘00710,00820 ‘00660 -00650 -00%-__0 ’0072“Nitrogen.E xis t,ingamides.a9Per cent.0 ‘11660 *lo490 ’00940 -11790 -08710 -133’70 *08280 .09910 -12220 -0993-------0 -1063Existinggluhamine(andsparagine)Per cent.as--_-----0.08020 *11100 -08740 -07940 *0796OdO$840 -08580 -0888--0 -08642lu tamine(andsparagine)Per cent.--- - -- -0 *41820.57810 ‘45570 -41400 *4$1510 ’40880 44740.46300 -1444I n roots 14-16, 17-19, 20-22, and 23-25, thc samples were mixed.The fresh roots contained, in a mean of six determinations, *2483per cent. of nitric acid (N20B) : a mean of three determinations gave-1023 per cent. of insoluble albumin-the percentage of the nihogenexisting. as insoluble albumin was multiplied by the constant 6.25 togive this figure-and in the pulp 2*05-.797 per cent.of nitrogen wasfound.With roots grown from the seed, the fresh juice eontained, as a meanof five analyses :-Nitrogen.* = 0.0087 N&YEGETABLE PHYSIOLOGY AND AGRICULTURE. 87Betaine was found to diminish in quantity as the roots grew ; for inan experiment made with roots containing -008 per cent. of betaine,hardly a trace could be detected after they had been planted andallowed to mature. The following table shows that but little nitricacid passes from the root to the leaves, &c., during growth, althougha decided loss of this substance is observed.Weight of the Roots,in grams.Bcf oreplanting.12961211963Aftergrowth ofleaves, kc.12671164918Weightof thevegetablematterproduced,dry.11 -4613 ‘838 *86N,05 contained in theRoot.Beforeplanting.Per cent.0 -21’710 -22310.2377CLfter growth.Per cent.0.19310 -18640 -1559N,05 indryvegetablemat(t er .0 -05trace0.17Corenwinder is making investigations similar to those above given,with which probably his results will be found to agree (Stammer,Ja,hresSer..f. Z&ixrfabrikation, Bd. vli, s. 88).The paper concludes with an analytical supplement, giving theauthor’s results in a tabular form ; the number of analyses performedis very large.Cultivation of the Rough-haired Soj a-bean (S’oja hispida,Moneh). By F. HABERLANDT (Landw. Versuchs-stat., xx, 241-272).-Although the soja-bean contains more nutritious material than otherseeds of a like nature, its cultivation has been hitherto neglected inEurope.It is grown in the Malay Islands (Java), India, China, andJapan; and in the two latter is used as an every-day food.Seeds obtained from various sources were planted, and the plantswere grown in three plots, each plant having a space of 4.03 squaredecimeters.R. C. W.Time of collecting seed June and September :-Plot No. I, brown-redrsriety, from ChinaPlot No. 11, light yel-low variety, fromChinaPlot, No. 111, light yel-low variety, fromMongolia::I- l5249 -2336 -5196 -9105 -092 *581 *ti154.5148 -0126 -01 -2041 -1901 -1721 -2331 -2461 -2488 ABSTRACTS OF CHEMICAL PAPERS.On comparing these beans with the original from China and Mon-golia, they were found to be heavier and larger.The percentageincrease in weight was for No. I, 54.7 ; No. 11, 47.1 ; No. 111, 60.The following table gives results obtained from plants produced fromthe original seeds, as well AS from those produced by replanting thebeans thus yielded :-Size of plotsin squaremeters } 9.60 9 -60 9 '90 4 '0 11 '0 4 -0 4 *5Time of sow-ing } 25 Ap. 25 Apr. 5 May 25 Apr. 5 May 25 Apr.19 May23 June1 Oct.27837105 May2 June3 July6 Nov.705702 June Sprouts shownCommence-ment of blos-somingHarvest.. . . . .19 May} 26 June26 Sept19 May20 June1 Oct.2 June28 June6 Nov.5219 May26 June6 Nov.3 July6 Nov.Number ofplants yielded } 268 339 245 72Weight ofseed in grams } 2707 1950 650 2180 500Weight of air-dried strawin grams } 4300 7270 4150 1920 5030 2410 2200Nzmber ofseeds from1 plant}619 93 -3 40 *5 124 -4 80 -4 79.8 65 -7Weight of1000 air-dried seeds163 *6 I 143 '0 141 -8 101 -6 110 *6 102 -0 105 VEGETABLE PHTSIOLOGY AND AGRICULTURE.89I-e'llow variety from.Mongolia.Water ..............Protein .............Fat. .................Non-nitrogenous extractire matter. .......Fibre ...............Ash ................Yellow swiety fromChiaa.Water ..............Protein .............Fat. ................Non-nitrogenous extractive matter. ........Fibre.. .............Ash ................ ,Brown-red variety fromChina.Water ...............Protein ..............Fat.. ................Non-nitrogenous extrac-tive matter.........Fibre. ...............Aph .................General Analyses of Seeds.In 100 parts of the Air-dried Substance.7 *1432 -1517 -1032 *914 '585 -427 -9631 *2636 -2134 -594 9 55 '23'7 -4633 *2617 *4531 "785 -314 *469 '3632 -0717 *5931 -594 '484 -918 -6234 *8118 -5328 -844 '374 '839 -7833 *1718 -4229 *624 '024 *997 *8932 -5817 -49- --7 '8934 *9718 -39- - -8 -6832 -4'718 -05- --?alculated on substance with10 per cent. of Water.10 '0031 -4116 -6933 -144 '475 -2910 *oo30 '5615 -8133 -804 -6'75 -1210 .oo32 '3516 *8731 '005 *174 '3410 '0031 -851'7 '4731 *354 -454 '881090034 *3'718 2 528 '324 '304 -7610 '0033 -0918 -3829 -544 '014 -9810 *oo31 -9017 '11---10 .OO34 -3318 '00---10 -022 -0317 231-- -These analyses correspond very closely with those made by Zenff in1872.The soja is the richest in fat and oil of all beans.An analysis of the ash of the yellow variety from China, second re-production, gave (free from C and CO,) per cent.of-Fe203 andK20 Na20. CaO. MgO. A1,03. P206. SO3. C1. 8iOp44-56 0.98 5-32 8.92 trace 36.89 2.70 0.27 trac90 ABSTRACTS OF CHEMICAL PAPERS.The air-dried seed contained 2.87 per cent. of ash, and dried 100”3.14 per cent. The proportion of 1<,0 agrees with that in horse-beans,garden-beans, and peas. An analysis of the air-dried straw gave:moisture, 12-44 per cent.; protein, 9.43 ; ether extract, 2.51 ; extractivematter free from nitrogen, 36-03 ; fibre, 29.45 ; ash, 10.14. 100 partsof the pure ash gave:-Fe20s andKPO. Na20. CaO. MgO. AlP03. P,O,. SO3. C1. SiO,.15.41 2.18 14.47 15.42 0.75 9-32 6.37 0.16 5.41The protein in this straw is about the same as in pea-straw, andThe oil much more than in pea, bean, or lupine straw.The K20 in ash much less than in pea, bean, or lupine straw.The CaO and MgO in ash much more than in pea, bean, or lupineThe P,O,in ash t,he same as in pea, bean, or lupine straw.The paper concludes with a seriee of tables on the temperature oftwice as much as in the straw from lupinestraw.the soils in which the bean was cultivated. R. C.W.Functions of Vine Leaves. By H. MACAGNO (Compt. rend.,lxxxv, i63-765)-The leaves of the vine act as organs of secretion,more especially those a t the upper extremities of the fruit-bearingbranches, secreting glucose and cream of tartar, which are conductedalong the branches to the fruit, t o which they act as nutrients.This accounts for the occasional failure of the vine crops after theoperation called “ pincement,” which consist in removing the ends ofthe fruit-bearing branches at the third or fourth leaf above the highestbunch of grapes. This operation, if carried on to too great an extent,especially where the production of grapes is abundant, does not leavea siifficient amount of leaves for the secretion of the quantity of‘nutriment required by the fruit. L. T. 0’s.Influence of Gases on Fermentation. By OTTO NASSE(P’iige~’~ Archiv. f. Physiologie, xv, 471-481) .-Experiments weremade on invertin as follows :-An ice-cold mixture of cane-sugarsolution and invertin was divided into five parts, and through each offour of them a special kind of gas passed ; through the fifth commonair. The mixtures were in all ca8ses subject to exactly similar con-ditions, and the results were :--inverted sugar amounted withoxygen and carbonic oxide, to 0 ; with hydrogen to 8 mgm., withC 0 2 to 20 mgru., and with air to 7 mgm. This last result was provedby a subsequent experiment to be partly due to the carbonic acid inthe atmosphere.Experiments upon ptyalin and glycogen solution show that’ in thiscase the gases exert but slight influence over the power of thef ernient.The ferment was not in any case destroyed by the action of thegas.Applying this method of research t o muscular tissue, a larger amounAXALPTICAL CHEMISTRY. 91of carbohydrates was found in muscle which had been kept in anatmosphere of carbonic acid, than in muscle left exposed to the airunder otherwise similar conditions. F. J. L