42 ABSTRACTS OF CHEMICAL PAPERS. Chemistry of Vegetable Physiology and Agriculture. Methane as Carbon-food and Source of Energy for Bacteria. N.L. SOHNGEN (Proc. K. Akad. Vetensch. Arnsterdcm 1905,8,327-331). -The fact that methane which is produced in enormous quantities in nature and is chemically so inactive occurs only in traces in the atmosphere led the author to search for living organisms capable of feeding on this hydrocarbon. These mere discovered in short rod-like bacteria provisionally called Bacillus nzethanicus which form as a slimy pink film on the surface of a culture-liquid (water 100 calcium sulphate 0.01 ammonium chloride 0.1 0 magnesium ammonium phos- phate 0.05 potassium hydrogen phosphate 0.05) impregnated with garden-soil sewage or canal-water and placed in an atmosphere of methane and oxygen a t about 30'.The methane is nearly all absorbed in a week and the presence of organic matter in the culture-liquid can be shown by oxidation with standard potassium permangsnate. A pure culture of B. methanicus is obtained by growing it on washed agar containing the necessary salts at about 30' in an atmosphere consisting of one-third methane and two-thirds oxygen. c. s. Similarity in the Action of Salts of Copper Mercury and Silver on the Lower Plants. THOMAS BOKORNY (Chenz. Zeit. 1905 29 1201-1202).-Algp are killed by salts of copper mercury and silver at dilutions of 1 in 1,000,000; all other metals require to be in much more concentrated solution to exert a .harmful effect. The germicidal action of ferrous sulphate is attributed to traces of copper sulphnte present in this substance as an impurity. P.H. Influence of Formaldehyde on the Energy of Increase the Fermentation Energy and the Duration of Generation of Different Varieties of Yeast. JULIUS HIXSCH (Chem. Centr. 1905 ii 1377-1378 ; from Allgem. Zeit. Bierbrau. J4aZxfubr. 1905).- Aldehyde stimulated the energy of incease in nearly every case. The fermentation maximum was generally reached only when the energy of increase had considerably diminished. Formaldehyde does not hinder the separation of invertin. N. H. J. M. Fermentation Process with Colophony. JEAN EFFRONT (Chem. Centr. 1905 ii 1377 ; from Mon. sci. [iv] 19 ii 721-722). -Abietic acid and colophony free from volatile acids are favourableVEGETABLE PHYSIOLOGY AND AGRICULTURE.43 to the development of the organism. I n a solution containing many yeast cells and few lactic acid bacteria the colophony settles more on the relatively greater surface of the rods than on the yeast cells and so assists the yeast in its struggle with the bacteria. I n practice an alkaline solution of colophony is added after in- troducing the yeast into the mash; very pure fermentations result and the sterilisation of the mash the addition of acid and the employment of large amounts of yeast are unnecessary. N. H. J. M. Effect of a Drug on a Simple Vital Process. HEINRICH DRESER (Zeit. Elektroclient. 1905 11 739-741).-The effect of sodium salicylate on the rate of evolution of carbon dioxide by yeast cells is studied. A small addition of sodium salicylate increases the rate further quantities produce a rapid diminution in it whilst for very large quantities the rate tends asymptotically towards a value greater than zero.The middle part of the curve can be represented by the assumption that a small addition of sodium salicylate dx produces a proportional increase dy in the rate of evolution of carbon dioxide which is proportional to the quantity of salicylate x already present or - l/y dy/dx = K.x. By putting ( x - b ) in place of x in this equation it is made t o fit the first part of the curve also. It appears probable that a part of the salicylate is absorbed by the yeast cells and becomes inactive; the constant b would represent this absorbed part. The fact that the curve does not tend towards zero as the quantity of salicylate is increased is probably due to the superposition of another phenomenon. The evolution of carbon dioxide by Buchner's enzyme is not aEected by sodium salicylate and a small residual evolution of gas will therefore be observed after all the living yeast cells have been poisoned.T. E. Assimilation of Carbon Dioxide. WALTHER LOB (Zeit. Elektro- chem. 1905 11 145-'752).-The author has attempted t o build up a sugar from carbon dioxide and water using the silent electric dis- charge in place of the natural combination of sunlight and a catalyst. The apparatus was arranged in such a way that the products formed were removed from the action of the discharge as quickly as possible. Moist carbon dioxide yields carbon monoxide and oxygen first formic acid and hydrogen peroxide are formed slowly as secondary products.I n moist carbon monoxide the main reactions are CO + H = CH,O (formaldehyde) and CO + H20 = CO + H2. Formic acid is also produced. A moist mixture of carbon dioxide and hydrogen gives formaldehyde and formic acid. Carbon monoxide and hydrogen give the same products ; the formaldehyde is however present in much larger quantity and considerable quantities of carbon dioxide are formed. When the discharge is passed through moist carbon dioxide in presence of a substance which absorbs oxygen formaldehyde and formic acid are produced in much larger quantity. Chlorophyll itself may be used as the oxygen absorber.44 ABSTRACTS OF CHEMICAL PAPERS. Moist formaldehyde vapour decomposes mainly into carbon monoxide and hydrogen but small quantities of methane are also formed Formic acid and water vapour behave similarly.From methane and carbon dioxide it is almost certain that alcohol can be synthesised and alcohol is very probably one of the intermediate products of the natural synthesis. Moist alcohol vapour alone gives a mixture of hydrocarbons carbon monoxide hydrogen and a little carbon dioxide from which further secondary products are produced. I n presence of carbon dioxide however these reactions become of secondary import- ance the main change leading to the formation of a sugar. The substance is optically inactive it reduces Pehling's solution and yields a crystalline osazone which melts at 160-164' and decomposes about 180". T.E. CH20 + ZH = CH + H20. Assimilation by Plants during Different Periods of Growth. HERMANN WILFARTH HERMANN ROMER and GUSTAV WIMMER (Landw. 'Vkrsuchs-Stat. 1905,63 1-70).-Whilst barley summer wheat peas and mustard assimilated most of their nutritive substances by the time of flowering the maximum was reached in the case of potatoes only at harvest time. With the exception of phosphoric acid more or less of the mineral constituents assimilated by barley summer wheat peas and mustard return to the soil during the ripening period. With potatoes there was no return of mineral constituents to the soil. The amount of starch increased in all the plants (except mustard) up to the ripening period. I n mustard seed the starch is replaced by fat. N. H. J. M Influence of Nutrients on the Development of Leguminous Nodules.HENRI FLAMAND (Eied. Centr. 1905 34 738-740 ; from Ing. ugric. Gembloux 1904 14 755).-Water-culture experi- ments with peas vetches and beans were made to ascertain the effect of different salts on the symbiosis as indicated by the production of nodules. The plants were inoculated from corresponding nodules when three weeks old. Potassium nitrate (1 10,000) prevented the production of nodules with sodium nitrate a larger amount (1 2000) was necessary. Peptone has only slight effect and urea no action a t all; oxamide is injurious. Potassium phosphate is more beneficial than the chloride and sulphate in the case of vetches and peas. With beans the latter salts are more baneficial. Calcium and magnesium salts are very favour- able in the case of peas and beans but some of the salts hinder the production of nodules on the roots of vetches ; only calcium sulphate is beneficial with vetches.N H. J. M. Chemotaxis of Equisetum Spermatozoids. BENGT LIDFORSS (Chern. Centr. 1905 ii 1270-1271 ; from Ber. deut. bot. Ges. 23 314-316).-The specific irritant for the spermatozoids of Equiseturn (arvense and palustre) is malic acid. The acid potassium and calciumVEGETABLE PHYSIOLOGY AND AGRICULTURE. 45 salts behave similarly to the normal malates and have a poisonous action. Free malic acid (1/1000 mol.) has a strongly attractive action whilst with stronger solutions the action is reversed. Salts of maleic acid have also a strongly attractive action. Fumaric acid and its salts have no action.N. H. J. M. Oxidising and Reducing Properties of Living Cells. I. Oxidising Power of the Absorbent Surfaces of the Roots of Flowering Plants. Af. RACIBORSKI (BUZZ. Acad. Sci. Cracow 1905 338-346).-The oxidising power of the absorbent surfaces of the roots of flowering plants in presence of atmospheric oxygen is demonstrated (1) by growing the plants in solutions of substances which when sufficiently diluted do not affect the life of the root cells and on oxidation yield coloured products either directly or on subse- quent addition of a suitable reagent or (2) by placing the sterilised germinating seeds on moistaned indicator-paper prepared from such oxidisable substances. The most suitable indicators are a-naphthyl- amine benzidine phenolphthalin and ferrous ammonium sulphate.The following substances also are oxidised Barbadoes aloes guaiacum resin phloridzin caff etannic acid pyrogallol leucomethylene-blue ursol and tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine. I n no case was the oxidising power sufficient to liberate iodine from hydrogen iodide or its salts. I n the absence of atmospheric oxygen the oxidation of a-naphthylamine benzidine or phenolphthalin takes place slowly and to only a small extent. The oxidising power which is a function of the living cells is strictly localised being confined to the absorbent surfaces of the roots and being strongest in the region of the root hairs. G . Y. Root Secretions. DMITRI N. PRIANISCHNIKOFF (Biecl. Centr. 1905 34 741-743; from Bey. dezct. bot. Ges. 1904 22 lS4).- Millet grown in sand was found to assimilate the phosphoric acid of aluminium phosphate both dried a t 100' and ignited and of iron phosphate when merely dried but only small amounts when ignited.Similar results were obtained with vetches and mustard whilst lupins utilised ignited iron phosphate. Rye and wheat failed to develop when supplied with crude phos- phates whilst lupins produced nearly as much growth with crude phosphate as with bone phosphate. If the different behaviour of gramineous plants and lupins towards sparingly soluble phosphates can be shown to be proportional to the production of carbon dioxide by root respiration it would lend support to the assumption that the dissolving action of roots is due to carbon dioxide alone without intervention of free organic acids. N.H. J. 1111. The Preaence of Sucrose in Scammony Root. The Presence of Sucrose in the Fresh Scammony Root. PAUL REQUIER (J. Pharrn. Chim. 1905 [vi] 22 435-4325 492-494).- The dextrorotatory sugar present in the mother liquors from which crude scammonin has been precipitated (compare Abstr. 1904 i 90s)46 ABSTRACTS OF CHEMICAL PAPERS. is sucrose which in the form of barium sucrate can be separated from the other compounds present and obtained in a crystalline form by decomposing the barium compound with carbon dioxide and recrystal- lising from alcohol. One hundred grams of the dry scammony root contain 3.36 grams of sucrose. The fresh roots of scammony contain 1.872 per cent. of sucrose which is equivalent to 6.S02 per cent. of the dried root since the fresh roots lose 72.45 per cent.on drying at 105'. M. A. W. Malt Diastase. ANDREAS KLEEMANN (Lundw. Yersuchs-Stut. 1905 63 93-134).-For each kind of barley there is a definite amount of water in presence of which the greatest amount of diastase is formed. It depends however how the amount of water is added and taken up. The losses of substances due to respiration are greater the greater the amount of water absorbed during the softening and germination of the grain. The production of diastase cannot be followed with sufficient certainty by the methods hitherto available. The method employed in these experiments and found to be satisfactory is described. N. H. J. M. Effect of Improving Grapes on their Composition. G. CURYEL (Bied. Centr. 1905 34 743-744; from D.Weinluube 1904 573). -The juice of improved grapes contains more acid more sugar and more nitrogenous matter but less solid constituents especially phosphoric acid less tannin and less colour than the original grapes. N. H-. J. M. Marsh Soils. F. SCHUCHT (.I Landw. 1905 53 309-32S).- Analyses of soils from the marshes of the North Sea and especially from the mouth of the Weser (compare Zeits. ,Vc6turw. 1903 '76). N. H. J. M. Nitrogen Decompositions in the Soil. F. LOHNIS (Centr. Bakt. Par. 1905 ii 15 430-435).-The nitrogen of calcium cyanamide was very quickly converted into ammonia in April and May and its effect on the crop resembled that of ammonium salts. As regards the decomposition of bone-meal i t was found that Bacillus mycoides and Bacterium vulgare converted 39 and 28 per cent. of the total nitrogen into ammonia in three weeks.N. H. J. M. Development and Distribution of Nitrates and Total Water-soluble Salts in Field Soils. F. H. KING J. A. JEFFERY and A. R. WHITSON (20th Ann. Rep. Agr. Zxper. Stat. Univ. Wisconsin for 1902-1903 339-344).-1n soils growing maize and potatoes the nitrates in the surface soil (to one foot) increased from April to June after which owing to rapid growth and perhaps t o heavy rains as well there was a falling off. The amount of nitrates in the second foot was much less. I n a dry season the nitrates have a tendency to accuniulate near the surface. Determinations made from November 29 to April 1 showed in everyVEGETABLE PHYSIOLOGY AND AGRICULTURE. 47 case except one that the soil did not contain more nitrate a t the end of the frost than a t the end of the autumn just before the frost. Plants growing in rich soil were found to contain considerable amounts of nitrates especially the lower parts of maize stems and the vines of potatoes. Influence of the Soil on the Proteid Contents of Crops.A. R. WHITSON F. J. WELLS and A. VIVIAN (20th Awn. Rep. Agr. Expep. Stat. Univ. TVisconsin 1902-1903 345).-Pot experiments with oats maize and rape showed that the percentage of proteid increased with the amount of nitrate supplied. RICHARD HORNBERGER (Bied. Centr. 1905 34 726-727 ; from Zeit. Forst. Jagdwes. 1905 37 71. Compare Henry Abstr. 1905 ii 11 I).-After exposing leaves (oak beech acacia) and fir needles for a year to sir and rain in zinc boxes it was found that a gain of nitrogen equal to only 0.3 to 0.4 kilo- gram per hectare had taken place in two cases and that in three cases there was a far greater loss of nitrogen.Calcium Cyanamide. CONRAD VON SEELHORST and ALOYS MUTHER (J. Lumdw. 1905 53 329-356).-The results of pot experiments showed that calcium cyanamide applied to a sandy loam had a manurial value a t least equal to ammonium sulphate. Good results were also obtained with a loam. I n sand-cultures and possibIy in the case of soils very deficient in fine soil calcium cyanamide is injurious to vegetation. The poisonous action is attributed partly t o the presence of calcium carbide and partly to changes in the nitrogen of the calcium cyanamide. Addition of iron oxide to sand prevents the injurious action of calcium cyanamide. Felspar and Mica as Potassium [Manures]. DMITRI N. PRIANISCHNIKOFF (Lcmdw. Vemuchs-Stat. 1905 63 151-156).- Experiments with different plants showed that mica is better as a source of potassium than orthoclase and that the solvent action which ammonium salts show in the case of crude phosphates is not appreciable in the case of orthoclase. N. H. J. M. N. H. J. AT. Litter and Nitrogen [Fixation]. N. €I. J. M. N. H. J. M. N. H. J. M.