38 ABSTRACTS OF CHEMICAL PAPERS. Chemistry of Vegetable Physiology and Agriculture. Assimilation of Free Nitrogen by Soil Bacteria without Symbiosis with Leguminosa By JULIUS * KUIIN (Bied. Centv., 1901, 30, 660-663 ; from Fiihling’s Lnnduj. Zeit., 1901, 2).-The results of field experiments on rye during 21 years show that the yields of grain and straw on the iznmanured plot and on the plot which has had only non-nitrogenous manures tend to increase rather than diminish. The soil evidently contains fair amounts of available mineral matter, whilst experiments with nitrogenous manure indicate a limited supply of available nitrogen. The conclusion is therefore drawn that fixation of elementary nitrogen is going on under the influence of soil organisms. Kriiger has isolated x micro-organism from the soil, which, in culti- vations in artificial solutions, assimilated not inconsiderable amounts of free nitrogen.VEGETABLE PHYSIOLOGY AND AGRICULTURE.39 The yield of rye on the different plots was as follows (kilos. per 1 iectare) : 1879. 1894-1898. 1899. Grain. Straw. Grain. Straw. Grain. Straw. 1. Dung ..................... 2400 3870 2774 5696 2405 5565 2. Minerals .................. 1770 2520 1976 4363 1640 4020 3. ,, + ammonium sulphate+nitrate ...... 2570 4080 2926 5968 2675 5950 4. Ammonium sulphate + nitrate ................. 2560 3570 2664 5224 2370 5030 5. Unmanured ............... 1820 2490 1974 3914 1750 3730 +7 - The season of 1899 was unfavourable to grain production. N. H. J. M. Decomposition of Nitrates and Nitrites by Bacteria. By ALBERT MAASSEN (Chem.Centr., 1901, ii, 820-821; from Arb. k. Ges.-A,, 18, 1-77).--Potassium nitrate in 0.5 per cent. solutions con- tainin! peptone ( 5 per cent.) was reduced to nitrite by 85 of the 109 varieties of microbes examined. Fifty varieties destroyed nitrites, four of them liberating free nitrogen, Many bacteria which reduced nitrites, without liberation of nitrogen, had very little or no effect on nitrates. The presence of carbohydrates is favourable to denitrifica- tion, whilst in absence of organic nitrogen, nitrates and nitrites are attacked by microbes which have no effect when proteids are present. TheIso-called denitrifying organisms destroy nitrates independently of the nature of the nutritive solutions, whilst the others act only in presence of certain carbon compounds.The action of both classes of microbes is retarded by the presence of highly oxygenated compounds, such as chlorates, without injury to their growth. Some bacteria, such as Bacterium paepollens, act on nitrates only in symbiosis with other varieties, liberating nitrogen and producing potassium carbonate. The co-operating bacteria, in the case of B. praepollens, are exclusively those which reduce nitrates to nitrites. N. H. J. M. Decompositions of Nitrogen Compounds in Soil by Lower Organisms. By IT. KRUUER and W. SCHNEIDEWIND (Chem. Centr., 1901, ii, 824-825; from Landw. Jaiirb., 30, 633-4548. Compare hbstr., 1901, ii, 470)-Application of straw, in field experiments, resulted in a lessened assimilation of nitrogen and a diminished crop.The injurious effect of fresh organic matter on the assimilation of nitrogen by the crop is to a great extent due to production of insoluble nitrogenous compounds, under the influence of denitrifying and other microbes and fungi. The nitrogen not only of nitrates but especially of ammonium salts and amides becomes unavailable. The insoluble nitrogen becomes available only slowly ; most of it, perhaps, not a t all. Ammonium sulphate (but not nitric nitrogen) is ptrtly converted into proteids even in absence of fresh organic manure. This explains why ammonium salts supply less nitrogen to crops than nitrates when the latter are not subjected to loss by drainage. N. H. J. M.40 ABSTRACTS OF CHEMICAL PAPERS. Effect of Methylal on some Fresh-water AlgE.By RAOUL COUILHAC ( C o ~ y ~ t . rend., 1901, 133, 75 1 -753).--Nostoc and Annbaena are able to grow in presence of methyla1 when the amount of light is insufficient for the decomposition of carbon dioxide; in absence of methylal or other organic matter, there is no growth under these conditions. A certain amount of light is necessary when methylal is present. Experiments are proposed to ascertain whether methyl alcohol and formaldehyde respectively can replace methylal. N. H. J. MI. Constituents of Coffee Berries. By L. GRAF (Zeit. ccngew. Ckeiii., 1901,14, 1077--1082).-Coffee berries do not contain dextrose or any reducing sugars in the free state, The presence of sucrose in the methyl alcoholic extract has been established. It appears that sucrose after crystallisation from methyl alcohol melts a t 169-170", but after crystallisation from ethyl alcohol at 179-180O. Caffetannic acid is also a constituent of coffee beans; although gen- erally regarded as a glucoside, it does not yield a sugar on treatment with dilute acids, concentrated alkali, bromine or dilute nitric acid (compare Kunz-Krause, Abstr., 1893, ii, 3 2 7 ; lS97, i, 530 ; F.Koch, ibid., 1895, ii, 410; Hlasiwetz, AnnaZen, 1867, 142, 219 ; Cazeneuve and Haddon, Abstr., 1897, i, 529). J. J. 8. Presence of Salicylic Acid in Strawberries. Errors of Analysis which may result therefrom, By L. PORTES and A. DESMOULI~REX (J. P?mrm.Chim., 1901, [vi], l4,342--351).--Salicylic acid has been actually isolated from ten different varieties of strawberries, and is shown to be a normal constituent of this fruit.The acid is most probably present as methyl salicylrtte. The amount present, although small, 1 mg. having been obtained from 1 kilogram of the fruit, is sufficient to answer to the reactions employed for the detection of salicylic acid in cases of suspected adulteration. H. R. LE 8. Formation of the Perfume of Vanilla. By HENRI LECOMTE (Compt. rend. 1901, 133, 745--748).-The fruit of plunifolia does not possess the characteristic odour of vanilla a t the period of cropping ; the odoiir is developed during the process to which the fruit is subsequently subjected. Evidence is adduced in support of the view that v:\nillin is formed by the action of a ferment on coniferin, the coniferyl alcohol thus produced being transformed by an oxydase into vani 1 lin.Oxydase was found in the best preparations of vanilla (from Mexico, Reunion, Mayotte, and Seychelles), but was absent, or nearly so, in inferior preparations from Tahiti and in '' vanillon " from Guadeloupe. All the materials examined contained manganese. N. H. J. M. Production of Milk and Butter. Variations in the Richness of Milk in Fat. By L. NALPEAUX and E, DOREZ (Ann. Agron., 1901, 27, 449--461).-The minimum and maximum amounts of different constituents found in milk were as follows :--water, S4.5-89.6 ; fat, 10.4-15.5 ; casein, 2.9-3.8 ; lactose, 4.6-5.4 ; ash,VEQETABLE PHYSIOLOQY AND AGRICULTURE. 41 0.6-0.9 per cent. A low percentage of f a t is not necessarily coincident with a large yield of milk. The last portion of the milk obtained in milking was found to be much richer in fat than the first portion, but contained somewhat less of the other constituents.Soon sfter calving, the amount of fat is above the average, but subsequently there is a regular decrease, which, in some cases, may be considerable. N. H. J. M. Poisoning by Potassium Perchlorate. By F. R. JUNGNER (Bied. Cents.., 1901, 30, 711 ; from Deut. Zundw. Prssse, 1900, No. 62).- Germination experiments were made with rye both with and without sodium nitrate (1 gram, corresponding with the amount usually applied per acre). I n presence of perchlorate eight different symptoms of injury mere observed, and there were also differences in composition. N. H. J. M. Effect of Various Mechanical Conditions of the same Soil on Barley.By JOHANN J. VAGHA (Bied. Centr. 1901, 30, 654-657; from Zeit. Lccndw. Yemuchs- Wes. Oesterr., 1901, 4, 99).-Barley was grown in pots containing loamy clay soil, and the same soil t o which varying;amounts of sand and of silt respectively had been added. The same manures and the same amount of water were added t o each pot. As the fineness of the soil increased there was an increase in the yield of grain and straw ; the number, length, and weight of the ears and the weight of the grain were also increased. Light sandy soil favoured the production of mealy grain, and the grain is smaller and accumulates more ash constituents than in heavy soil. The amounts of nitrogen and ash in the grain produced in the normal soil (l), and in the soil with 2 sand (2), and with 8 silt (3), were as follow :--N (1) 1.667, (2) 1.530, andi(3) 1.575.Ash, (1) 2.600, (2)f2*740, and (3) 2.432 per cent. I n the original paper, fifty different properties of the single plants are discussed. Analyses of the ears and the grain are given. N. H. J. M. Assimilation by Oats with different Amounts of Moisture in the Soil and with different Manures. By 1,. LANGER and BERNHARD TOLLENS ( J . Landw., 1901, 49, 209--229).-An increase in the amount of water in the soil gave rise to increased production of grain and straw; a t the same time, the percentage amount of phosphoric acid and also that of potassium (when the soil contained plenty of potassium, but not otherwise) in the produce were raised. The percentage amount of nitrogen in grain and straw diminished as the amount of soil moisture increased.Root production diminished when the amount of water in the soil mas increased, and vice versa. Exclusive phosphoric acid manuring increased the total produce in soils de6cient in nitrogen when the soil moisture mas increased. The produce contained the greatest amount of phosphoric acid when grown on soil poor in phosphoric acid.42 ABSTRACTS OF CHEMICAL PAPERS Excess of potassium manure in conjunction with much water promoted the growth of straw, but diminished the yield of grain. Heinrich’s results, indicating that the roots show deficiency of manures in the‘soi1,’qare generally confirmed ; but minimum numbers have to be modified according to the amount of water. Langer, in opposition to Tollens, considers that the results of the analysis of oats give indications as good as, or better than, soil analysis as to the manurial constituents of the soil (compare Atterberg, Abstr., 1901, ii, 573).N. H. J. M. Manurial Experiments with Beans and Barley on Heavy Marsh Soil. By LILIENTHAL (Bied. Centy., 1901, 30, 666-668; from RihZing’s Landw. Zeit., 1901, SO).-Field experiments with beans followed by barley on limed and unlimed plots, without manure, and with basic slag! guano, and a mixture of basic slag, sodium nitrate, and kainite respectively. It was found that lime neutralises to a great extent the injurious effect of salts on heavy marsh land and that the amount of lime present in basic slag is not sufficient to obtain the greatest yields. When liming is adopted for rich marsh land, manures must at first be applied with caution, especially for cereals, to avoid the crop being laid.Horse beans do not require nitrogenous manure on marsh land; fixation of nitrogen increases with the supply of phosphoric acid in the soil. The phosphoric acid of basic slag is more effective on marsh land than that of crude guano. N. H. J. M. Sweet Potato. By LOUIS BONNIN (Ann. Agron., 1901, 27, 491-492 ; from Bull. Assoc. Chirn. suer. dist., 1901, Il028).-The following analyses are given of (1) the meal obtained by grinding the sun-dried tubers of Ipomum batatos, (2) the creepers, and (3) the residues obtained after extracting the starch (13-14 per cent.) from the meal : Nitrogenous. Non-nitrog. 71Ta t er. Fat. matter. matter. Cellulose.Ash. (1) 11-40 1*96 3.06 78.77 2-69 3.12 (2) 84.51 0.56 2.03 8.16 2 4 7 1.37 (3) 24.86 0.48 0.55 69.49 3.82 0.80 The meal and the extracted meal form suitable cattle foods when mixed with molasses, whilst the creepers are used for COWS. N. H. J. M. Conditions of Temperature and Moisture of a Loamy Soil with different Crops and different Manures. By CONRAD VON SEELHORST (J. Landw., 1901, 49, 231--250).-The result of pot experiments showed that the unmanured soil gave up the most water and the soils which received potassium manure and sodium nitrate, or a mixture of both, the least water. Superphosphate had not much effect. The pot with potassium manure and superphosphate lostVEGETABLE PHYSIOLOGY AND AGRICULTIrRE. 43 water more quickly than the superphosphate pot, whilst potassium carbonate alone strongly retained water.In subsequent experiments with sand, it was again found that the evaporation was greatest without manure or with superphosphate. Calcium carbonate had practically no effect. A large number of moisture determinations were made in soils growing different crops and with different manures. The soil of plots which received no nitrogen always contained the greatest amounts of water owing to the increased evaporation from the crop. The differ- ence in the amount of moisture exists long after the removal of the crop. Manuring has only an indirect influence on the temperature of the soil, due to the greater amount of shade by denser crops. The differ- ences, however, do not seem to be of practical importance.N. H. J. M. Relative Manurial Value of Ammonium Salts [and Sodium Nitrate]. By PAUL WAGNER (Bied. Centr., 1901, 30, 668-670; from Mitt. deut. Zanclw. Ges., 1901, Nos. 10 and ll).-The results of field experiments in 1899 and 1900 in which rye, oats, barley, sugar beet, mangels, and potattoes were manured with sodium nitrate and ammonium salts respectively, showed the relative value of the two forms of nitrogen to be as 101 : 67 for grain and as 100 : 65 for straw, in the case of the three cereals taken together. The season was, how- ever, in both years, unfavourable for the utilisation of ammonium salts. I n the case of roots, the value of the ammoniacal nitrogen was only 48 as compared with nitric nitrogen = 100. This is, perhaps, t o be partly attributed to the action of the sodium of the nitrate. None of the soils on which the experiments were made were, physi- cally, exceptionally unfavourable for ammonium salts ; but it is possible that some, even those richer in calcium, contained too little calcium carbonate for the rapid conversion of ammonia into nitrate.N. H. J. N. Manurial Experiments with Sodium Nitrate in the Red- wine District of Ahrthal. By PAUL KULISCH (Bied. Centr., 1901, 30, 670-671 ; from Ber. k. Lehranstcdt Ohst-, Wein-, u. Gartenbau, Geiseniieinz a. Blhein, 1900, 103).-The application of sodium nitrate (300 kilos. per hectare) had 5 very striking effect on the stony, hilly land ; more stem and leaf were produced, whilst tho development of the grapes was improved. I n the case of humous loam, nitrate had very little effect.Any differ- encesiwhich were observed were in favour of the manured plots. Sodium nitrate had no injurious effect on the must. N. H. J. M. Employment of Ammoniacal Manures on Calcareous Soils. By ERCOLE GIUSTINIANI (Ann. Agron., 1901, 27, 462-486. Compare Abstr., 1899, ii, 692).-Ammonium manures may be used with advantage on damp, and generally on stony, soils containing calcium44 ABSTRACTS OF CHEMICAT, PAPERS. carbonate. I n rich soiIs, nitrificntionis slow, and the effect of ammo- nium salts is less rapid, but more durable, than that of sodium nitrate. Ammonium salts should not be applied to sandy soils which contain no calcium carbonate, or to sandy: calcareous soils. A light soil, with 5-20 per cent. of calcium carbonate, may, if not too dry, benefit by application of ammoniacal manures ; the manure might, with advan- tage, be added by degrees.When basic slag and ammonium sulphate are employed for the same soil, the former should be applied some days in advance in order to convert the free lime into carbonate. N. H. J. M. Solubility of Phosphatic Manures in some Organic Acids. By WALTER F. SUTHERST (Chenz. News, 1901, 84, 199-200).-A gram of the phosphate and a gram of citric acid, or a quantity of acetic or tartaric acid to give the same total acidity, were made up to 100 C.C. with water, left in contact for 24 hours with frequent agitation, then filtered, and the phosphoric acid estimated in the solution with the following results per cent., calculated as tricalcium phosphate. Acetic acid.Tartaric acid. Citric acid. Coprolite.. ................... 10.1 3 32-60 17.17 Basic slag .................. 12.30 15.85 19.67 Basic superphosphate.. .... 18-53 28.37 24-79 Precipitated phosphate ... 43.72 78-12 71-27 The phosphates contained respectively 84.29, 29.13, 28*38, and 80.73 per cent. of phosphoric acid calculated as tricalcium phosphate. D. A. L. Manurial Experiments. By JOHN SEBELIEN (Bied. Cenfr., 1901, 30, 671-681 ; from Norsk. Landm-bl., 1901, Nos. 12, 13, and 14).- Excessiveamounts of artificialmanures (more than 10,000 kilos, of kainite per hectare) proved to be very injurious to peas, whilst more than 5000 kilos. of potassium sulphate were beneficial. I n the case of carrots, the large amount of kainite was not injurious, but slightly increased the yield (5.9 per cent.), whilst potassium phosphate increased the yield by 32 per cent.The injnrious effect of the kainite on peas lasted over the second year when the kainite was applied alone ; in the case of the plot which received an excessive amount of superphosphate in addition t o the kainite, there was no injury the second year. The results of pot experiments in which ammonium sulphate and sodium nitrate were compared showed no marked difference, except in absence of potassium, in which case the nitrate gave the greatest yield of barley straw and grain. Similar experiments with potassium chloride and sulphate showed that the chloride raised the yield of grain, whilst the sulphate increased the yield of st'raw. N. H. J. M. [Manurial] Action of various Calcium and Magnesium Compounds.By DIEDRICR &!!EYER (Chem. Centr., 1901, ii, 825; from Landw. Jcdnb., 30, 619-631).-1n pot experiments, i t was foundANALYTLCAL C'HEMiS'f HY. 45 that with a mixture of Eolium perenrze and lucerne and oats, addition of more than 1 gramof calcium oxide in the form of gypsum consider- ably diminished the yield. Potatoes were not affected by gypsum. Addition of calcium or magnesium carbonate prevented any injurious action by gypsum; addition of soil to the sand also reduced the injurious effect to a minimum, so that there can be no objection, in practice, t o the relatively small amounts of gypsum which are employed. Small amounts of magnesium carbonate increased the yield of LoZium and lucerne, whilst large amounts were injurious ; horse beans and vetches mere not injured by large quantities. Calcium carbonate may be almost completely replaced by magnesium carbonate, but a mixture of the two gives the best results, even-when anexcess of lime is present.Dolomite marl is therefore at least as suitable as pure lime marl. Drainage Water. By CREYDT, CONRAD VON SEELRORST, andl WILMS (J. Landw., 1901, 49, 251--275).-The field from which thf? drainage was collected had an area of 4.81 hectares. The cropping; had been as follows: 1897, roots; 1898, wheat; 1899, beans, andl 1900, roots, The manures applied were ammonium sulphate, sodiurri nitrate, and superphosphate. The daily amounts of rainfall and th(3 estimated amounts of drainage from July, 1899, to August, 1900, an3 given in tables. Analyses were made in a large number of mixeci samples of the drainage. It was found that in winter there was more drainage than rain, and the constituents of the winter drainage were therefore not derivetl from the surface of the field alone. The maximum and minimum amounts of the different substanceis forind in the drainage were as follows: K,O, 1.75-3-69 ; CaO, 157*0-184.0 ; RilgO, 31.3-46-4 ; SO,, 43.5-59.2 ; and N,O,, 1 .O-S*2 per million. Increased temperature seemed to increase thfe amount of lime, owing to greater production of carbon dioxide. Tracej3 of phosphoric acid were always present in the drainage. The estimated losses per hectare are as follows : K,O, 8-4; CaO, 630 ; 2fig-0, 'ik'b ; BO,, I%% ; ax& I 3 , 4% ' ~ 3 0 s . Tne 'loss of pobassium is very slight, whilst that of phosphoric acid is still less. N. H. J. M. N. H. J. Rf.