i. 142 ABSTRACTS OF CHEMICAL PAPERS. Chemistry of Vegetable Physiology and Agriculture. A Hygienic Pipette for Bacteriological a n d Chemical Work. SERGEI TSCHACHOTIN (Centr. Bakt. Par. 1912 i 67 319-320).-The pipette is intended to facilitate the removal of liquid cultures of pathogenic organisms volatile poisonous compounds or liquids above flocculent precipitates. A double-bored rubber cork is cut transversely and between the two parts an ordinary rubber cap such as is used for closing bacterial tube-cultures is interposed and the three cemented together. Holes are made through the rubber cap with a hot needle and two tubes are introduced (a) a short straight one projecting slightly above and below the cork; ( b ) a siphon tube having the longer arm through the cork. A test-tube having a diameter slightly larger than that of the rubber cork is used as receiver and closed by means of the flange of the rubber cap.The short arm may then be placed in the liquid to be pipetted off and the cork of the pipette depressed slightly into the tube; the short glass tube is then closed by the fore-finger and the cork raised slightly. By this means a sufficient vacuum is created in the tube to cause the liauid to siphon over and the flow is stopped by raising the short arm O U ~ of the &id. H. B. H. Detection of Chitin in Bacteria. A. VIEHOEVER (Ber. Deut. botan. Ges. 1912 30 443-452).-Chitin was found to be present in a number of bacteria and the occurrence of glucosamine in bacterial material is attributed chiefly to the abundant presence of chitin rather than to glucoproteins.The results are of interest in removing a supposed difference between fungi and bacteria. That fungi contains chitin has been known for a long time N. H. J. M. Gas Metabolism of Bacteria. I. Fermentation of Dextrose by Bacillus coli B. typhosus and Bacterium welchii. FHEDERICK G. KEYES and LOUIS J. GILLESPIE (J. Biol. Chern. 1912,13 291-304). -The evolution of gas accompanying bacterial growth on media containing dextrose was studied by an exact method. Dextrose peptone media yield with B. coli more carbon dioxide than hydrogen on anagrohic fermentation; on a medium of ammonium lactate di- sodium phosphate and dextrose nearly equal volumes of the two gases are obtained the mean value of CO,:H being 1.06. This ratio is raised by the presence of oxygen and by increase of phosphate.With B. typhosus the ratio is never below 19; with Bacterium welchii it is 1-48. W. D. H. Gas Metabolism of Bacteria. 11. The Absorption of Oxygen by Growing Cultures of Bacillus coli and Bacterium welchii. FREDERICK G. KEYES and LOUIS J. GILLESPIE (J. Biol. Clrem. 1912 13 305-31 O).-For both micro-organisms the absorption of oxygenVEGETABLE PHYSIOLOGY AND AGRICULTURE. i. 143 simulates a unimolecular reaction but the respiratory quotients are widely different. With varying oxygen pressures the ratio CO H varies enormously for B. coli but only slightly for Bact. welchii. W. D. H. Activation of Certain Processes of Microbic Oxidation by Uranium Salts. HENRI AQULHON and R. SAZERAC (Compt. rend.1912 155 1186-1188).-A further study of the influence of uranyl acetate on Mycoderma aceti (compare A. 1912 ii 973) and a compara- tive trial of the influence of uranyl nitrate and uranyl acetate on the sorbose bacteria. I n the case of the acetic acid ferment 1 part of uranyl acetate per 1000 gives an increase of 57% in the acid production and even at a dilution of 1 in 100,000 an increase is shown at the end of seven days. With the sorbose bacteria uranyl nitrate increases the rate of oxidation up to concentrations of 1 in 5000 but stops all fermentation at 1 in 1000. A t all concentrations the acetate has a more favourable influence than the nitrate and 1 part of the acetate in 10,000 produces an increase yield of 76%. W. G. Action of Infinitesimal Doses of Different Alkaline Sub- stances Fixed or Volatile on the Vitality of Microbes.AUGUSTE TRILLAT and M. FOUAPSIER (Compt. rend. 1912 155 1184-1186).-8 study of the effect of adding minute quantities of various alkalis and organic bases to distilled water to which is then added a drop of dilute microbic aqueous emulsion containing no nutrient medium. The results expressed ir numbers of colonies formed are given for the organism M. prodigiosus. With pure water there is slight growth for twenty-four hours and then the organism dies. Death is immediate with sodium hydroxide until a dilution of 1 in 50,000 is reached and it is only in the case of ammonia at dilutions of 1 in 50,000 and higher that there is any marked increase in the number of colonies. With organic bases a t higher orders of dilution (1 in 250,000) the number of colonies formed is greater with fatty amines than ammonia and still greater with aromatic amines aithough even here death ensues after fifteen days.The addition of traces of putrefactive gases t o the distilled water allows cultivation to proceed even after three months. W. G. Putrefaction with Special Reference to the Proteus Group. LEO F. RETTGER and CLYDE R. NEWELL (J. Bio2. Chem. 1912 13 341-346).-Putrefaction is taken to mean decomposition of protein with the production of malodorous substances. The power to bring this about has been attributed to various members of the Proteus group acting anaerobically. The present experiments do not confirm this. W. D. H. The Influence of Organic Acids on the Fermentation by Yeast.FRITZ JOHANESSOHN (Biochem. Zeitsch. 1913,47 97-1 17).- Formic acid and its higher homologues accelerate in sufficiently dilute solutions the rate of fermentation by yeast. The optimal action for each acid lies at the same molecular concentration. The smallesti. 144 ABSTRACTS OF CHEMICAL PAPERS. quantities of the acids which stop fermentation do not kill the past. The stoppage of fermentation depends on the concentration of the acid and not on the absolute quantity present The relationship between this concentration and the quantity of yeast is not a simple propor- tional one but can be represented by the equation of a parabola. No appreciable adsorption of acids by yeast takes place. The essenti 11 action of acids is to be ascribed not to the ions but to the whole undissociated molecule. S.B. S. The Mechanism of Alcoholic Fermentation. ALEXANDER VON LEBEDEV (Biochsm. Zeitsch. 1912 46 483-489).-A reply to the criticisms of Harden and Young (A 1912 ii 670). S. B. S. The Mechanism of Alcoholic Fermentation. 11. ALEXANDER VON LEBEDEV and N. GRIAZNOV (Bey. 1912 45 3956-3272. Com- pare A. 1911 ii 816 1122).-Pure glyceraldehyde is fermented by extract of dried yeast directly to carbon dioxide and alcohol. Hexose- phosphoric ester is not formed as intermediate compound as in the case of the fermentation of dihydroxyacetone. It is further shown that during the fermentation of sugar by yeast extract acetaldehyde is not reduced to alcohol; on the other hand in the absence of sugar yeast extract is able to reduce acetaldehyde to alcohol.'Phis reduction is effected by an enzymatic procesq. It is considered that during fermentation hexove is hydrolysed to two trioses one of which glyceraldehyde loses hydrogeu forming pyruvic acid which undergoes rearrangement immediately and breaks down into acetaldehyde and carbon dioxide (compare Neuberg A. 1911 ii 976 1019 1020). Methylglyoxal hydrate is possibly an inter- mediate product (Neuberg and Kerb A. 1912 ii 973) ; preliminary experiments indicate that methylglyoxal is fermentable by yeast juice. The decomposition of hexose into two molecules of triose is regarded as a reversible reaction ; it will proceed when part of the triose is withdrawn as hexosephouphate so that this last compound acts a8 a regulating factor. The following complete scheme is suggested for fermentation 4C6Hl2O6 = 8C,H,O,.' Glyceraldehyde. Dihydroxyacetone. ' - 4C,H@,-4H,= 4cs[~,o3 4C,H60,+ 4RHPO,= 4C,H,O + 4H2= 4C,H,*OH 4C3H403= 4C',H40 f 4C0 4C,HbO,KPO4 + 4HQO = 2C,H,,O6 + 4RHP0 =BC6Hl,O4(RPO,),+ 4H,O 2C,H,,O = 4C,H60 etc. E. F. A. Influence of Pressure on Alcoholic Fermentation. L ~ O N LINDET and L. AMMANN (Bull. Soc. chim. 1912 [iv] 11 953-956).- Regnard has shown already that under a pressure of 600 atmospheres yeast still ferments sugar solutions. I n the present paper it is demonstrated that under such pressures as may occur in practice in fermenting liquids with yeast in closed vessels the reproduction ofVEGETABLE PHYSIOLOGY AND AGRICULTURE. i. 145 yeast and the fermentation go on at the same rate as under atmospheric pressure although when the experiments are conducted under such conditions that the air is not renewed fermentation and the multiplica- tion of the yeast-cells take place more slowly although the same production of carbon dioxide and alcohol is eventually reached.T. A. H. Is Ethyl Alcohol Produced by Yeast Fermentation in Absence of Sugar ? CARL NEUBERG and JOHANNES KERB (Chem. Zen&. 1g12 ii 1299-1300 ; from Zeitsch. GarungsphysioE. Mykologie 1912 1 114-120).-Since pyruvic acid is easily attacked by yeast with the formation of acetaldehyde (A 1911 ii 1019) it was expected that the ferment alone might be able to carry the reduction further. No alcohol could be found however but in the presence of sugar much less aldehyde was formed than the amount of pyruvic acid destroyed would warrant It seemed therefore that in normal alcoholic fermentation a substance is produced which can reduce pyruvic acid or acetaldehyde to alcohol.Formic acid suggested itself but was found to be without influence. Glycerol however had the effect of largely diminishing the output of acetaldehyde. J. C. W. The Primary Transformation of Hexoses by Alcoholic Fermentation. HANS VON EULER and TH. BEROGREN (Chem. Zentr. 1912 ii 1383-1384 ; from Zeitsch. Garungsphysiol. Afykologis 1912 1 203-218).-The addition of yeast extract to living yeast expedites fermentation by loo% and the difference AC between the change in optical rotatory power and the carbon dioxide developed (compare A 1912 ii 377) is increased by 20%. Assuming that fermentation proceeds in two stages hexose -+ intermediate product and inter- mediate product -+ alcohol and carbon dioxide it follows that if the extract contain8 only one co-enzyme the first stage will be accelerated but if there is a co-enzyme in the extract appropriate to each stage then the two reactions will be unequally accelerated according to the relative amounts cf the co-enzymes. Sodium nucleate also increases the activity of living yeast.J. C. W. The Effect of Phosphates on the Work of the Proteolytio Enzymes in Yeast. NICOLAUV IWANOV (Chenz. Zentr. 1912 ii 1384-1385 ; from Zeitsch. Gariingsphysiol. Mykologie 1912 1 230-252).-The action of antiproteolytic by-products in yeast fermen- tation may be overcome by the addition of acid phosphates.Experi- ments with dead yeast cells (hefanol) show that the decomposition of albumin increases with the concentration of potassium dihydrogen phosphate and that this increase i! independent of temperature. By decreasing the volume of liquid or by the addition of autolysis pro- ducts the action is still further increased whereas leucine and tyrosine do not influeace the process but dipotassium hydrogen phosphate hinders it. The proteolytic enzyme may be partly extracted from hefanol by means of water. When heated to SO' i t becomes inactive but the addition of potassium dihydrogen phosphate revives its activity. It VOL. CIV. i. Ii. 146 ABSTRACTS OF CHEMICAL PAPERS seems that this salt is able to regenerate the peptase and to promote its action. J. C. W. Comparative Influence of Potassiuni Rubidium and C e s i u m on the Development and Sporulation of Aspergillus niger.BENJAMIN SAUTON (Compt. rend. 1912,155,1181-1 183).-Aspergidlus niger was cultivated on Raulin’s liquid in the presence of equivalent amounts of potassium rubidium and casiurn as chlorides and the crops weighed after four days at 37’. Potassium causes an enormous increase in the crop which is diminished by 50% on replacing the potassium by rubidium whilst caesium is not a nutrient substance for the organism. I n a mixture of the chlorides Aspevyillus sziger fixes the potassium before the rubidium and czsium thus forming a means of freeing the two latter from the last traces of the former metal. Potassium plays an important part in the sporulation although in the abEence of zinc this could not be conclusively demonstrated.On substituting rubidium or caesium for potassium no spores are formed. W. G. The Scission of a- and P-Methylglucoside by Aspergillus niger. AKTHUR W. Dox and RAY E. NEIDIG (Biochem. Zeitsch. 1912 46 397-402).-AspergiZZw niger acts on the two glucosides in exactly the opposite way to that in which yeast acts for it readily hjdrolyses the p-form (100% within six days) whereas i t acts only slowly on the a-form hydrolysing only 8% in twenty days. No capacity of adaptation of the ferment to the a-form could be demonstrated. S. B. S. The Bebaviour of Moulds (Aspergillus niger and Penicillium crustaceum) towards Phytin. M. A. JEUOROV (Zeitsch. physiol. Chent. 1912 82 231-242).-The moulds mentioned grow well in a solution of phytin and assimilate its phosphorus especially in the presence of sucrose and peptone or glycerol.They split off phosphoric acid in high measure from the phytin. W. D. H. Decomposition of Carbamide Uric Acid Hippuric Acid and Glycine by Moulds. ALEXANDER KOSSOWICZ (l’ied. Zentr. 1912 41 79 1-792 ; from Zeitsch. Garungsphysiol. Mykologia 1912 1 60-60). -Pure cultures of the following moulds were found to assimilate urea uric acid hippuric acid and glycine under sterilised conditions Botrytis bassiani Aspergillus niger lsaria farinosn a Fusisporium Mucor Boidin and Phytophthora infestam. PGniC&%Um brevkaule and Y. crustaceunz utilise urea uric acid and glycine whilst Cladosporium herbarurn and Aspergillus glaucus only utilised urea and uric acid as sources of nitrogen. N.H. J. M. The Apparent Respiration of Dead Cells in the Reduction of Pigments. OTTO MEYERHOF (Pfliiger’s Archiv 191 2 140 250-274).-Neutral and weakly alkaline acetone yeast possesses a measurable power of taking up oxygen and this is increased in the presence of methylene-blue. I n the presence of dead cells reductionVEGETABLE PHYSIOLOGY AND AGRICULTURE. i. 147 of methylene-blue occurs also but it occurs also if the dead cells are absent. It is therefore not due to anything of the nature of vitality. I n one living animal cell the egg of the sea-urchin dissolved oxygen is present. W. D. H. The Action of Uranium on the Plant Cell. C . ACQUA (CIurn. Zentr. 1912 ii 1471 ; from Arch. Farmacot. sperim. 1912 14 81-84).-Dilute solutions of uranium salts (1 20,000 to 1 40,000) are absorbed by the cells of the roots of higher plants where they hinder the division of the nuclei and consequently the growth The cells of the green parts are less permeable to uranium salts and are therefore scarcely injured.Thorium and manganese salts have a similar but much smaller effect. Absorption of Aniline Dyes in Living Plant Cells. E. KUSTER (Bied. Zentr. 1912 41 763-764; from Jahr6. wiss. Bot. 1911 50 26l).-It is shown that a considerable number of dyes insoluble in fats are abundantly taken up by plant cells. Overton’s lipoid hypothesis regarding the nature of the outer layer of protoplasm is therefore insufficient whilst Ruhland’s opinion that there is no relation between the diffusibility of dyes and their penetration into plant cells is incorrect.The Physical Character of Bio-electrical Differences of Potential. REINHARD BEUTNER (Biochem. Zeitsch. 1912 47 73-93). -The difference of potential a t the contact surfaces-part of plant/aqueous solution of an electrolyte-can be altered in the sense that increasing dilution of the electrolyte makes the solution more positive. The change can be expressed by the following equation. J. C. W. N. H. J. M. -~~ _____ Pot. diff. 1 - Pot. diff. 2 = 58 log ‘1- -58 log J1 + 106m2c12. c2 1 + J1+ lO6rn%c,2 where 1 m 58 Limiting value of potential difference - Pot. diff. for c = rh/EiOO log -= The method of arriving at these equations is given and also an ex- perimental verification of the same. The biological significance is also discussed.S. B. S. Sterile Cultures of a Higher Plant. Assimilation of Nitrogen as Ammonia and as Nitrates. IVAN SCHULOV (J. exper. Landw. 1912 13 200-205 (in Russian) 205-206 (German Abstr.). Com- pare Hutchinson and Miller A. 1909 ii 923)-The results of sand culture experiments under sterilised conditions showed $hat nitrogen in the form of ammonium sulphate is assimilated by maize plants. It is also shown that the availability of phosphorite is considerably increased by the employment of ammonium nitrate and that ammonium nitrate overcomes the injurious action of ammonium sulphate. K. H. J. M. Localieation and Function of Potassium in Plants. TH. WEEVERS (Bied. Zent?.. 1912 41 764-765; from Rec. trccu. bot. NZerZand. 191 1 8 289-332).-By means of Macallurn’s reagenti.148 ABSTRACTS OF CHEMICAL PAPERS. (sodium cobaltinitrate with ammonium suIphide and glycerol) it was found that potassium is present in all parts of Thallophytes whilst negative results were obtained with the pollen grains of crocus and tulips. The greatest amount of potassium in Phanerogams was found in the young embryonal tissues rich in plasma and in the paren- chyma of leaves seeds roots and stems. The conclusion is drawn that potassium takes part in the produc- tion of proteins. I t s absence in the chlorophyll is opposed to the theory of Grafe and Stoklasa that it takes part in the process of assimilation. N. H. J. M. Chlorogenic and Saccharic Acids in Latex. K. GORTER (Rec. trav. chim. 1912 31 281-286).-The colour reactions with ferric chloride which de Jong and Tromp de Haas (A 1904 ii 762) have shown to be characteristic of the latex of certain plants resembie the reactions with the chlorogenic acid obtained from coffee (A 1908 i 186).It consists in boiling the suspected substance with dilute hydrochloric acid for an hour extracting with ether and shaking the washed and not too concentrated extract with very dilute ferric chloride when a violet coloration is produced. By this means it is shown that chlorogenic acid is present in the latex of Ficus elastica and of Cnstilloa elastica. I t has actually been isolated from the latter substance 300 grams of the latex yielding 0.3 gram chlorogenic acid m. p. 208" [a] - 35.2". The latex of Ficus elastica contains in addition an organic magnesium salt which has now been isolated and given the formula C,H808M,q,3H,0. The free acid bas [a] + 36*5O and gives a sparingly soluble potassium salt which closely resembles potassium disaccharate and a diphenylhydr- azone m.p. 210° which is identical with that derived from d-saccharic acid. This magnesium salt is the first indication of the occurrence of d-saccharic acid in nature. A delicate test for this acid is now described. J. U. W. The Carboxylase of Higher Plants. W. ZALESKI aud ELISABETH MABX (Biochern. Zeitsch. 1912 147 184-185).-Neuber.g has shown that yeast can ferment pyruvic acid with evolution of carbon dioxide. The authors now show that the addition of this acid to powdered pea-seeds causes an increase of the post-mortal production of carbon dioxide which takes place with equal energy in air and hydrogen.S. E. S. Basic Constituents of Fly Agaric. E. BUSCHMANN (Cham. Zelztr. 1912 ii 613; from Pharm. Post 1912 45 453-454).-A methyl alcohol extract of fly agaric (Amanita muscaria) by precipita- tion with phosphotungstic acid and silver nitrate yield.ed hypoxanthine and xanthine the former predominating (compare Zellner Chemie der haheren Pilxe 1 9 0 7). The Inulin Metabolism of Cichorium Intybus (Chicory). 11. The Formation and Storage of Inulin. VIKTOR GRAFE and V. VOUK (Biochem. Zeitsch. 1912 47 320-330. Compare A 1912 ii 977).-From estimations of reducing sugar and inulin in different T. A. H.VEGETABLE PHYSIOLOGY AND AGRICULTURE. i. 149 parts of the plant collected a t different periods the following con- clusions mere drawn.The inulin is not merely a reserve material but is intimately connected with the general carbohydrate metabolism as it can be readily detected macrochemically in the parenchymatous cells of the leaves of young plants. No difference in the inulin and lzevulose content of leaves of plants collected in the morning and afternoon could be detected. From this fact the conclusion is drawn that new carbohydrate is formed during the day in such quantity that an equilibrium is maintained between the laevulose and inulin. As the development of the root progresses there is a constant increase in the inulin content accompanied at first by a diminution of the laevulose ; the latter increases in quantity again as the roots ripen. S. B. S. The Organic Phosphoric Acid of Cotton-seed Meal.R. J. ANDERSON (J. Biol. Chem. 19 12 13 31 1-324).-The organic phosphorised substance from cotton-seed meal is probably either phytin or an isomeride ; this is to be ascertained by further work. W. D. H. Pigments of the Fucoidae. HARALD KYLIN (Zeitsch. physiol. Chem. 19 12 82 221-230).-'3!he fucoidaee contain carrotene and a crystalline yellow pigment probably identical with xanthophyll. They further contain a yellow pigment phycoxanthin which differs from xanthophyll in being soluble in light petroleum. E. F. A. Presence of Gentiopicrin Gentianose and Sucrose in the Fresh Roots of Gentiana Asclepiadea. MARC BRIDEL (Compt. rend. 1912 155 1164-1 l66).-The author has isolated and charac- terised gentiopicrin gentianose and sucrose from the fresh roots of Gentiana Asclepiadea and has obtained indications of the presence of another carbohydrate hydrolysable by invertin.W. G. The Constituents of Ip6 tabaco Wood (Bignonia tecorna). OTTO A. OESTERLE (Chem. Zentr. 1912 ii 1666-1667; from Schweix. TVoclL Chem. Pharm. 1912 SO 529-532).-1n order to investigate the nature of Lee's tecomin (T. 1901 79 284) the alcoholic extract of B. tecoma wood has been freed from resinous matter by means of benzene and light petroleum leaving a mixture which was partly soluble in boiling sodium carbonate solution. The soluble substance crystallised in yellow needles or leaflets m. p. 142-143" soluble in alkalis and alkali carbonates with intense red colours which disappeared on reduction but soon reappeared in the air.Tecomin is possibly identical with lapachol. From the substance which remained undissolved by sodium carbonate light yellow needles m. p. 242O were obtained. J. C. W. Variations of the Fatty Matters Sugars and Saponin-during the Maturation of Seeds of Lychnis Githago. (Mlle.) MARIE KORSAKOV (Compt. rend. 1912 155 1162-1164).-The fatty matters sugars and saponin have been estimated in the seeds of Lychnis Githagoi. 150 ABSTRACTS OF CHEMICAL PAPERS. at three stages in their development (a) just after flowering when young and white; (b) further advanced but still white; ( c ) almost ripe and black The results show a marked decrease in the content of fatty matters and sugars reducing and non-reducing and an increase in the saponin content with advance in development.The young seeds only contain traces of saponin and the amoiint of saponin in the other organs of the plant being practically nil it seems that the glucoside must be formed in the seed itself. W. G. Presence of Gentiopicrin in Swertia perennis. MARC BRIDEL (Compt. rend. 1912 155 1029-1031 ; J. Pharrn. Chirn. 1912 [vii] 6 481-484).-Swc~.tia perennis contains the glucoside gentiopicrin which can be isolated in the pure state and hydrolysed by emulsin (compare Bourquelot and Bridel A. 1910 ii 234). There are also indications of the presence of a carbohydrate which is only very slowly hydrolysed by emulsin. W. G. Occurrence of Trehalose Vanillin and d-Sorbitol. EDMUND 0. VON LIPPYANN (Ber. 1912 45 3431-3434).-After exposure to a sudden sharp frost in July the flowers of some blooming rushes Carex brunescen8 growing in a sheltered spot were observed to be covered with minute hard white crusts which proved to be hydrated t re halose C ,H,,O 2 H,O. The flowers of an orchid Gymrtadenia albida growing last summer on the heights above Davos were observed by the author to have a strong odour of vanilla; vanillin was isolated from them.Under normal conditions of growth the flowers of this orchid contain little or no vanillin. During last year's wet summer many fungi in the fields near Kissingen grew in enormouB quantities and t o prodigious size in particular a variety of Boletus bovinus which reached the dimensions of a dinner plate. After fine weather had set in a number of the tops of these fungi which had been struck off by a passer-by and had partly dried were found to be covered with a network of a crystalline substance which on examination proved to be hydrated d-sorbitol.c. s. Chemical means of Protecting Plants from Frost. N. A. MAXIMOV (Rer. Deut. bot. Ges. 1913,30 504-416. Compare A. 1912 ii 476).-The supposition that the protective action of the substances employed depends on the eutectic point of the solution is confirmed by the results of further experiments in which ,,mixtures instead of single substances were used. A mixture of mannitol and potassium nitrate considerably increased the power of resisting cold whilst the two substances singly have very little effect. As regards the connexion between the protective action and the permeability of the plasma for the protective substance it is now shown that the action takes place immediately and that the result depends on the action of the solution on the surface of the plasma.From this it follows that the death of plants by freezing is due to injury to the surface of the plasma. N. H. J. M.VEGETABLE PEYSIOLOGY AND AGRICULTURE. i. 151 Alfalfa. IV. Enzymes Present in Alfalfa Seede. C. A. JACOBSON (J. Arnsr. Chm. Soc. 1912 34 1730-1 740). -In continua- tion oE the investigation of alfalfa (Medicago scttiva) (A 1912 ii 80 239 976) a study has been made of the enzymes contained in the seeds. The results show that the seeds contain enzymes which like amylase and emulsin are capable of hydrolysing starch and amygdalin respectively ; an enzyme which coagulates milk like rennin ; an enzyme which like the peroxydases precipitates purpurogallin from a pyrogallol solution containing hydrogen dioxide and an enzyme resembling proteases in being able to digest casein and Witte peptone.This protease is found to be a vegetable erepsin since it will not begin the digestion of egg-albumin blood-serum legumin or conglutin and its digestion of casein and Witte peptone is checked to some extent by the presence of egg-albumin or blood-serum. The seeds do not appear to contain invertase or lipase. E. G. Comparative Efficiency for Growth of the Total Nitrogen from Alfalfa Grass and Gorn Grain. EDWIN B. HART GEORGE C. HUMPHREY and F. B. MORRISON (J. Biol. Chem. 1912 13,133-154). -Experiments on heifers show that the utilisation of nitrogen for growth is as efficient when the source is alfalfa hay as when it is corn kernel.There was no sudden increase or decrease in the nitrogen of urine or faxes when the animals were suddenly changed from one ration to the other. The amide-nitrogen which is high in the grass is therefore not valueless. The effect on milk production will be treated later. I n growing heifers the creatinine output rises with increased storage of nitrogen W. D. H. Observations on the Action of Fluorine in Nature. Uao ALVISI (Gatxxetta 191 2 42 ii 450-452).--The author confirms the presence of fluorine in wheat (wben ripe) and in human teeth. He suggests the employment of calcium silicofluoride as a manure. R. V. S. Reducing Substances Present in Fresh Sugar Beets. Their Influence on the Direct Estimation of Sucrose in the Beet.HENRI PELLET (Bull. Assoc. chim. Sucr. Dist. 1912 30 239-253),- Freshly harvested sugar beets always contain a small quantity of reducing sugar amounting to 0.05-0.87 gram per 100 C.C. of the sap. Thia amount is independent of the initial richness of the beet in sucrose and does not vary in different parts of the same beet. The estimation is made in the sap clarified by treatment with neutral lead acetate ; basic lead acetate precipitates some of the rcducing sugar. Beets of inferior quality contain 2-2-5 grams of reducing sugar per 100 C.C. of sap. Beets stored in silos lose some of their sucrose but the amount of reducing sugar does not increase. Beets damaged during harvesting or transport contain 0.3-0.35 gram of reducing sugar; in sickly beets the quantity increases to 0.4-0.5 gram per 100 C.C.of sap. Reducing sugar is not formed during diffusion. The amount arisingi. 152 ABSTRACTS OF CHEMICAL PAPERS. during the processes of manufacture is very small when proper care is exercised. The presence of this reducing sugar renders the polarimetric esti- mation of the sucrose in the beet-juice inaccurate. Sesame Cake. ACH. GR~GOIRE and EM. CARPIAUX (Bull. SOC. chirn. Belg. 1912 26 479-485).-A number of samples of sesame cake have been examined with respect to the content of pure ash lime fat acidity of fat and oxalic acid. The results show great variations in the composition of the commercial products. The pure ash contains as a mean value 34.5% of lime the extreme values being 28.4% and 39.8% respectively.This determination may be employed for controlling the purity of sesame cake since the great majority of other seeds yield an ash relatively poor in lime. Sesame cake free from oil and earth contains an average of 1.99% anhydrous oxalic acid the individual determinations varying between 1 *44% and 2.96%. This value is not sensibly altered when the oil becomes rancid. Free oxalic acid could not be detected. E. F. A. H. W. The Black Earths of the Valley of l’oued R’Dom in Morocco. G. GIN (Commpt. rend. 19 12 155 1166-1 167).-An account of a black arable earth from a fertile valley traversed by l’oued R’Dom. A description of the earth and results of chemical analyses are given. It is found to support vegetation even in the warm dry moaths and this is supposed to be due to the presence of a trihydrated aluminium oxide in the clay which supplies the necessary water during the dry months and recoups itself a t the next wet season.The black colour is due to an amorphous humic substance which is partly soluble to a brown solution in potassium hydroxide. W. G. Agronomic Study of Manganese. 9. NOTTIN (Compt. rend. 1912 155 1167-1169).-A study of the behaviour of different soils towards soluble manganese salts. Soil has the power of rendering the manganese insoluble and fixing it the constituents of the soil however having different absorbent powers. Silica and humus play no part in the manganese fixation. Chalk produces fixation of the manganese by interchange of the calcium and manganese. Natural clay also has a marked absorbent power independent of the lime present. W. G. Nitrolim and its Decomposition in the Soil. 111. C. J. MILO (Chem. Zentr. 1912 ii 1393; from Med. Proefstut. Javu- Suikerind 1912 601-634. Compare A 1912 i 16).-Nitrolim is hygroscopic and absorbs water and carbon dioxide with liberation of nitrogen. The calcium cyanamide decomposes into cyanamide and carbamide which with the help of micro-organisms gives rise t o ammonium carbonate. I n soils which are only slightly absorptive the calcium cyanamide gives basic salts and cyanamide and further decomposition proceeds very slowly. J.’C. W.