44 ABSTRACTS OF CHEMICAL PAPERS. Chemistry of Vegetable Physiology and Agriculture. Action of the Sorbose Bacterium on Xylose (Wood-sugar). By GABRIEL RERTRAND (Cornpt. rend., 1898, 127, 124--127).-When the bacterium of sorbose is allowed to grow in a decoction of yeast mixed with xylose, the latter is slowly, but almost completely, con- verted into xylonic acid. C. H. B. Composition of the Mycelium of Mould Fungi. By MARSCHALL ( B e d . Centr., 1898,27,575 ; from Arch. Hyg., 28, 16-29 ; and Chem. Centr., 1897, i, 115).-Anslyses were made of Aspergillus iaiger, Pen& cilliurn glaucum, and Mucor stolonifer before fructification. The average percentage composition of the dry matter was found t o be as follows. Ether Alcohol Nitrog. extract Proteids. extract. extract. Cellulose.Starch. sol. in water. Ash, 38 5.27 14.03 5.03 2-8 28-47 6-37 The fungi occupy, therefore, as regards composition, a position be- tween bacteria and the higher plants. Germination. By F. VICTOR JODIN (Ann. Agrm., 1898, 24, 382-390. Compare Abstr., 1898, ii, 129).-Experiments similar to those previously described were made with dead pea seeds, sterilised and not sterilised. The sterilised seeds remained practically inert, whilst the results obtained with the non-sterilised seeds seemed to indicate very active respiration. On repeating the experiment with live peas, the relation C02/02 was 1-00 with sterilised, and 1.23 with non-sterilised seeds, showing that the activity of live seeds is able to overcome the effect of microbes. Pea seeds, seven years old, the germinative power of which was very much weakened, were covered with water.They did not ger- minate, but underwent a slight change, liberating carbonic anhydride and absorbing oxygen. Cotyledons (of peas), after removal of the rudimentary plant, con- tinued to give off carbonic anhydride, and retained a great part of the chemical energy of the seeds. But the nature of the change was entirely altered. Thus whilst during two successive periods of 5 days the relation, C02/0,, was 1-41 and 0.84 with entire peas which had germinated normally, it was 14.08 and 2.15 in the case of the mutilated peas. Effect of Formaldehyde on the Germination of Sugar Beet Seed. By ANTON STIFT (Bied. Centr., 1898, 2'?, 568; from Outerr. Zeit. Zuckerind., 1898, in).-Beetroot seeds retained, without excep- tion, their power of germinating, after remaining 24 hours in an atmosphere of formaldehyde (compare Windisch, Abstr., 1898, ii, 40).N. H. J. M. N. H. J. M. N. H. J. M,VEQETABLE PHYSIOLOGY AND AGRICULTURE. 45 The Presence of Simple Organic Gompounds in the Vege- table Kingdom. By ADOLF LIEBEN (Monatsh., 1898,19,333-354). -It has previously been shown (Abstr., 1895, ii, 348) that the only product which can be isolated when carbonic anhydride is reduced with nascent hydrogen is formic acid. Experiments have now been undertaken to determine whether grass and the leaves of different trees yield formic acid or other volatile products when mixed with their own weight of acidified water (containing about 0.6 per cent. of sulphuric acid) and then subjected to distillation with steam.The faintly acid distillates were treated with sodium hydrogen carbonate and evaporated to dryness,and the solid residue examined for different acids. In all cases, formic and acetic acids, and a higher fatty acid, probably propionic, were obtained, the amount of acetic acid being greater than that of the other acids, although the amounts were invariably small; for example, from 72 kilos. of grass only 11 grams of the mixed barium salts were obtained. A small quantity of a higher crystalline acid was isolated which was practically insoluble in water, readily soluble in ammonia, fused readily, and gave insoluble lead and silver salts. The neutral volatile products were obtained by distilling with steam and attaching a fractionating column to the flask ; the distillate coming over was examined separately, and then the column was removed, the distillation continued, and the distillate examined for acids. Methylic and ethylic alcohols and a small quantity of oil were the only neutral products isolated, the amount of ethylic alcohol being always greater than that of methylic, and experiments indicated that this alcohol was only obtained after the vegetable tissue had remained for some time in contact with water. I n order to determine whether the acid and neutral products thus obtained were actually present in the leaves, bc., or were obtained by the action of the acidified water on the carbohydrates present in the tissues, the author subjected cane-sugar to an exactly similar treat- ment, and it was found that neither methylic nor ethylic alcohol was formed, but, apparently, when 5 or 10 per cent.sulphuric acid was employed, a small quantity of furfuraldehyde was produced. The volatile acids obtained from different carbohydrates, for example, filter paper, starch, and cane-sugar, were formic acid and a small quantity of a higher solid acid, probably identical with that obtained from leaves. When cane-sugar was mixed with water acidified with tartaric acid and then subjected to distillation with steam, formic acid was the only volatile product isolated, J. J. 8. Physiological Meaning of Phosphoric Acid in the Organism of Sugar Beet. By JULIUS STOKLASA (Bied. Centr., 1898,2'7,537-539 ; from Zeit. Zuckerind. Bohmen, 1897, 403, and Oesterr.Zeit. Zuchrind. 2c. Landw., 1897, 933).-Of the total phosphoric acid in beet seeds, 2-72 is in the form of lecithin. In seedlings six days old (sand-culture), the amount of phosphoric acid as lecithin was 6 per cent. of the total, and after 30 days, 9 per cent. was found in the leaves and stems, and 4.6 per cent. in the roots. In the case of plants grown under ordinary conditions, 6.3 per cent. of the phosphoric acid of the leaves46 ABSTRACTS OF CHEMICAL PAPERS. was present as lecithin after 60 days, but only 5 per cent. in the roots. At the end of the vegetative period, when the outer leaves were yellow, the green leaves contained 0-89, and the yellow leaves only 0.15, per cent. of lecithin. The dry substance of chlorotic beet contained only 0.22 per cent.of lecithin, whilst green leaves contained nearly 1 per cent. in the dry matter. As leaves die off and the chlorophyll is destroyed, the lecithin migrates to the root, where it is stored up, chiefly in the head, presum- ably in anticipation of second year's growth. N. H. J. M. Chlorophyll in a Nostoc grown in the Dark. By ALEXANDRE ~ T A R D and BOUILHAC (Compt. rend., 1898, 127, 119--121).-A Nostoc grown in the dark on a solution of glucose containing certain salts, was found to contain a green chlorophyll, which gave the spectrum charac- teristic of the glaucophylls found in ordinary living leaves, except that the band X548-536 had a much higher relative intensity than usual, being stronger than the band X631-606, although not so strong as the band h690-650.The alcoholic solution was yellowish-green with R distinct red fluorescence. Whether this chlorophyll possesses the ordinary chlorophyllien function was not ascertained. Conditions of Development and the Composition of the Volatile Mustard Oils of the Seeds of the Crucifer=. By GUNNER JORGENSEN (Sied. Centr., 1898, 27, 697-699 ; from Tidsky. f. Pysik. 09 Kemi. Copenhagen, 1898, 3, 91-1 1 l).-The investigation was undertaken in consequence of the poisoning of cattle fed with rape cake. The cakes examined, which were stated to be rape cake, proved in some cases to consist of Brassica napus or B. rapa, in other cases the seeds of Sinapis, Eruca and Erysimum were found. Various Brassiccc seeds, unmixed, were also examined. The cakes which acted corrosively on the digestive organs of the cows, did not show any considerable difference in the amount of mustard oil they produced, The composition of the mustard oils from different sources varied, however, considerably.I n some cases (Xinap's nigra and Bra~ica juncea) the analytical results corresponded with the composi- tion of allylthiocarbamide ; in other cases (Brassica glauca, B. dichotoma h.), the thiosinamine produced was a crotonylthiocarbamide. The permanence of the pungent odour, produced by stirring with water and adding white mustard, was fairly proportional to the amount of '( Indian seeds " in the cakes. Under the conditions of the experi- ments (the substance 5, mustard 1, water 100 grams, were kept at 40" in a closed 250 C.C. flask), the odour of mustard oil could still be detected after from 0-2 hours when no Indian rape was present, after 18-19 hours when the sample consisted mainly of Indian rape, after 26 hours with sarepta, and after 28 hours with black mustard.C. H. B. N. H. J. M. Miorochemical Proof of the Presence of Alkaloids in Medicinal Drugs. By HERMANN BARTII (Arch. Phurm., 1898, 236, 354-367).-The paper contains the results of a number of experiments made on some drugs with the idea of determining in which cells orVEGETABLE PHYSIOLOGY AND AGRICULTURE. 47 Lowest .. Highest. Nean. ... cell-complexes the alkaloids are to be found. I n addition to the ordinary reagents, the following were often found to give good results :-vanadium sulphate, a sulphuric acid solution of cerium sulphate, and selenium sulphate and nitrate.Some reagents, such as iodine, bromine, chlorine, hydrochloric and nitric acids, were employed in the form of vapour, thus permitting the use of a very powerful reagent, without dilution. Such reagents are strong enough to kill the plasma and convert the alkaloid, combined with an organic acid into an easily crystalIisnble salt. Many alkaloids for example, give crystalline substitution or additive products with the halogens, which are, however, easily soluble in water. Such compounds can, in the above manner, be easily detected by the microscope, or a t all events when a polarising microscope is employed, as most of them are doubly refractive. The results, which cannot well be abstracted, lead the author to the belief that the alkaloids are utilised during the germinating and de- velopment of the young plants, which is in agreement with Heckel's views (compare Arch.Phav-m., 1892, 555). Formation of Proteids in Plants by the Reduction of Nitrates. By ALEXANDRE HEBERT (Ann. Ayron., 1898, 24, 41 6-440). -The results of different investigators indicate that in the reduction of nitrates in plants, hydrogen cyanide is formed, and that this action usually takes place in those organs in which chlorophyll is present, and where the production of formaldehyde also predominates. After calling attention to the great combining power, and the facility of forming polymerides, which formaldehyde possesses, and the similar properties of cyanogen derivatives, it is suggested as probable that the two substances combine in the vege- table cells, yielding the more or less complex nitrogen compounds- which form the fundamental products of the hydration of albumin.N. H. J. M. A. W. C. Cereals. Leguminous. Straw, Chaff. Straw, Chaff. In total In total In total In total proteids. proteids. proteids. proteids. -________-____-~- 0 0 0'049 3'49 0.058 5-39 0.078 6'05 0'102 15-74 0.117 13.23 0'203 19.37 0'465 24.49 0'049 7-29 0.085 8-19 0.123 11-74 0'244 12.25 Amount of Nitrogenous Substances other than Proteids in Ripe Straw and Chaff. By PAUL HOLDEFLEISS ( B e d . Centr., 1898, 27, 532-534 ; from Habilitationsschr. Halle ad., 1897).-The total nitrogen, and the pure proteids (by Stutzer's method) were determined in a large number of samples of the straw and chaff of various plants. The following is a summary of the percentage results relating to non-proteids :48 AESTRACTS OF CHEMICAT, PAPERS.Amount of Nicotine in Retail Cigar8 and Tobacco. By HUGO SINNHOLD (Arch. Pharm., 1898, 236, 522-529).-The amount of nico- tine in European cigars, varies from 0.648 to 2.957 per cent. and in Havanna cigars from 0.972 to 2.241 per cent. Cigarette tobaccos con- tain 0.801 to 2.887 per cent., and pipe tobaccos 0.518 to 1.854 per cent. of nicotine. The analytical methods employed were those of Kissling (Zeit. anal. Chern., 21, 6 4 ; 22, 199), and Popovici (Biss. E'rlangen, 1889). A. W. C. The Changes in Sugar when Stored. By LEOPOLD JESSER (Bied. Centr., 1898,27, 701-705; from Oestemn. Zeit. Zuckerind., 1898, 35). Behaviour of Raw Sugar when Stored, By N. RYDLEWSICI (itid., from D. Deut.Zuchrind., 1897,1413, and Oesterr. Zed. Zuchrind., 1897, 1202)-Raw sugar in quantities of 1 cwt., contained in sacks, was buried in sugar. The sacks were taken out from time to time, in order to obtain samples, in which the cane-sugar and the alkalinity were determined. The results agree with those of previous investigators, in showing that the changes which sugar undergoes are not due to the composition of, at any rate, the normal non-sugars present, but to micro-organisms. The change does not progress uniformly. High alkalinity does not prevent the change, but when neutrality is reached reducing sub- stances are produced in such amounts that they can be determined by ordinary methods. In the early stages of decomposition, analysis is unable to decide whether the sugar is likely t o change much or little when stored.As a rule, strongly alkaline sugar can be kept longest. Feebly alkaline sugar, however, is often well able to resist change, especially when sulphurous acid has been employed. N, RYDLEwsKItstored different sugars for 100, 200, and 300 days, and examined them by the usual methods. He concludes that there is no danger as long as the sugar shows an alkaline reaction. The preparation of the sugar, for example, with or without animal charcoal, has no effect if the alkalinity of the sugar amounts to 0-020 or 0.030. N. H. J. M. Production of Humus from Manures. By HARRY SNYDER (Agr. Expt. Stat. Urbiv. Minnesota Bul., 53, 1897, 12-35. Compare Abstr., 1898, ii, 449).-Cow manure, green clover, and meat scraps produce valuable, highly nitrogenous humus, capable of combining with the phosphoric acid and potash of the soil.Sawdust, straw, and carbohydrates produce humus rich in carbon, which has less power to combine with the phosphoric acid and potash of the soil than the more nitrogenous forms of humus. Prolonged cropping produces less nitrogenous and more carbonaceous humus as compared with the humus of uncultivated land. Forest fires may dissipate 75 per cent. of the total nitrogen of the soil, and the practice of burning over new land sometimes causes per- manent injury to the soil. Soils which are deficient in humus are sandy and sandy-loam soils, which have grown maize, potatoes, and small grains without applica- tion of stable manures or without the proper rotation of crops.Prairie soil contains, per acre, about 1500 lbs. of phosphoric acidVEGETABLE PHYSIOLOGY AND AGRICULTURE. 49 and 800 Ibs. of potash combined with humus. After twenty years of cultivation, the amount of phosphoric acid is reduced to about 400 lbs. if the supply of humus is not kept up. Production of Nitrogenous Manure. By JOSEF KONIG (Bied. Centr., 1898, 27, 667-671 ; from Neue Zeit. Riibenxwckerind, 1898, l).-Attention is directed to the powibility of sapplying a great portion of the nitrogen required in Germany for manuring, in the form of ammonium salts from gas-works and coke-furnaces. It is estimated that at least 230,000 tons of ammonium sulphate, contain- ing 46,000 tons of nitrogen, could be produced annually as against 19,600 tons actually produced in 1898.As regards the prevalent idea that nitrogen in the form of ammonia is less valuable than in the form of nitrates, it is pointed out that, whilst for spring manuring nitrates are preferable to ammonium salts (as most plants probably assimilate nitrogen in the form of nitrates), nitrates have the disadvantage that they are liable to give rise to the formation of a crust on the surface of the soil ; they are also unsuited for autumn manuring owing to loss by drainage, and when used in large amounts they injure the quality of the crops. The application of ammonium salts involves, in the case of soils poor in lime, more or less frequent addition of marl, lime, or basic slag ; marl and ammonium salts may be applied simultaneously, but should be at once ploughed in.Experiments have shown the relative values of ammonium sulphate and sodium nitrate to be 90-96 : 100. But when the disadvantages of sodium nitrate are taken into account, both forms of nitrogen may be considered equal. hsimilation of Nitrates, and the Effect of Different Nitrates. By W. SCHNEIDEWIND' (Bied. CeBtr., 1898, 27, 674-676; from J. Landw., 1898, 46, I).-The rssults of experiments with sugar-beet manured with sodium and potassium nitrates respectively, indicated that the sodium salt gave a greater yield OF dry matter and sugar in the roots, whilst the potassium salt produced a greater amount of leaf. The better effect of sodium nitrate is attributed to its greater solubility and diffusibility. In the case of oats manured with various nitrates, the yield of grain was greatest with the magnesium salt; sodium nitrate gave the next largest amount of grain, then calcium, and, lastly, potassium nitrate.Magnesia has zt special r6Ze in the production of grain ; but it is supposed that the better result of sodium as compared with potassium nitrate is due, as in the case of sugar-beet, to the greater solubility of sodium salts, and to the consequent more rapid supply of nitrogen and phosphoric and sulphuric acids to the plant. Straw production was least with magnesium, and greatest with potassium nitrate. The composition of the grain did not vary to any extent, except in the case of the magnesia plants, the grain of which was somewhat richer in magnesia. Most of the magnesia, however, was deposited in the straw.N. H. J. M. N. H. J. M. VOL. LXXVX. ii. 450 ABSTRACTS OF CHEMICAL PAPERS, 50 kilos. P205. It is not supposed that sodium can in any way replace potassium in its functions connected with the migration of starch and sugar, N. H. J. M. Experiments on the Effect of the Phosphoric Acid of Bone Meal. By JULIUS KUHN (Bied. Centr., 1898, 27, 527-530; from Deut. landw. Presse, 1897, 24, Nos. 62 and 63).-Bone meal, being sparingly soluble, is not very effective when applied for crops which occupy the land for short periods. Even the after-effect in such cases is inconsiderable, as, with ordinary soils, the phosphoric acid of bone meal remains, after the harvest, unchanged in the sparingly soluble, tribasic form. The effect is, however, essentially different in the case of crops such as winter wheat, perennial clovers, &c., and the appropriative power of plants such as winter rye is of importance.Pot experiments were made, in which summer rye was grown in poor, sandy soil, without phosphate and with different amounts of various phosphates. The numbers given below show the percentage increase in produce over the unmanured pot. The amounts of phos- phoric acid are given in kilos. per hectare : 100kilos. P,O,. 200kilos. P,O, Superphosphate.. .......... Basic slag., ................. Degelatinised bone meal. Steamed bone meal ....... grain. straw, grain. I straw. I grain. grain. -I--l-- straw. 18 61 64 45 straw. 13 45 50 79 61 - 50 58 34 72 46 - -I- 76 1 58 With heavy soils, and with crops of long vegetative periods, i t is best to employ superphosphate.With good, warm, average soil, both steamed bone meal and superphosphate may be used, whilst super- phosphate alone should be applied to cold loams, or cold sandy loams. In the case of good sandy soil, superphosphate should not be used; both basic slag and steamed bone meal are suitable. There will, perhaps, in future, be more competition between de- gelatinised bones and basic slag for light sandy soils than has hitherto been the case. Observations as to whether the Beneficial Action of Lime on the Soil of the Experiment Station is due to any extent to its Neutralising Action. By HOHER J. WHEELER, GEORGE M. TuCKER,and BURT L. HARTWELL (Ann. Rep. Agr. Expt. Stat. Rho& Island, 1896,9,294-318).-The injizrious effect which invariablyresulted from the continuous application of ammonium sulphate to the soil of the Experiment Station could be overcome by simultaneous application of sufficient potassium carbonate, wood ashes, air-slacked lime, sodium carbonate, or caustic magnesia. Magnesium sulphate gave less satisfactory results, and the same holds, in a mom marked degree, in the case of gypsum as compared with slacked lime. In experiments with N. H. J. M.ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY. 5 1 potatoes, gypsum failed to produce the beneficial effect observed with calcium carbonate, acetate, and oxalate, slacked lime and wood-ashes. Calcium acetate and oxalate are no doubt converted in the soil into carbonate (compare Schmoeger, Bes., 1879,755). It is concluded that, apart from the beneficial effect, both physical and mannrial, of the above-named substances, they were probably, to a great extent, useful owing to a natural deficiency of bases in the soil and also in correct- ing acidity. Calcium chloride exerted a poisonous action (on potatoes). N. H. J, M.