82 ABSTRACTS OF CHEMICAL PAPERS. Chemistry of Vegetable Physiology and Agriculture. Action of Oidium lactis and Vibrio choler= on Choline Hydrochloride. A. RUCKERT (Arch. Pha~m. 1908 246 676-69 1). -Brieger has stated (Die Ptomaine Berlin 1888) that certain bacteria have the property of removing a molecule of water from choline thereby forming the toxic substance neurine and this observ- ation has been confirmed to a certain extent by E. Schmidt (Abstr. 1892 219). With a view t o further confirmation the author has grown pure cultures of Oidium lactis and Vibrio cholerae in solutions of choline hydrochloride with bouillon as a nutritive medium and finds that these decompose choline forming ammonia and carbon dioxide but he was unable to detect any neurine in the reaction products.T. A. H. The Formation by Microbial Activity from Starch of Crystalline Substances which do not reduce Fehling’s Solution. FRANZ SCHARDINGER (Centr. Bakt. Par 1908 ii 22 98-103).-The substances i n question were obtained by the growth of Bacillus rnacerans in a medium two litres of which contained 100 grams of starch 2 grams of ammonium phosphate 0.5 gram of magnesium sulphate and sodium chloride. The mixture was filtered after four days’ incubation and the filtrate which smelt strongly of acetone and was acid in reaction was neutralised and evaporated. On cooling a crystalline product separated which was extracted with 50% alcohol. To the concentrated cooled alcoholic extract ether was added. A precipitate was thereby obtained which consisted chiefly of regular hexagonal plates ; intermixed with these were aggregates of needles.The substances do not reduce Fehling’s solution and give reactions with iodine solutions. Reduction of Nitrates during Alcoholic Fermentation. GIULO PARIS and T. MARSIGLIA (Chem. Zentr. 1908 ii 966; from Slax. sperim. agrar. ital. 1908 41 223-232).-During the process of alcoholic fermentation the nitrates present are found to be reduced in varying quantity to oxides of nitrogen. The action is sufficiently vigorous to reduce completely all the nitrates naturally present in the must ; in some cases the reducing action is so vigorous t h a t a relatively large amount of added nitrate may also be reduced whilst in other cases the greater part remains unchanged. I n these circumstances of varying intensity of reduction during fermentation little value is t o be attached to the amount of nitrate present in a wine as affording an indication of its dilution. S.B. S. J. V. E.VEGETABLE PHYSIOLOCIY AND AGRICULTURE. 83 Nitrification of Calcium Cyanamide in Various Types of Soil. SANTE DE GRAZIA (Chew. Zentr. 1908 ii 1060; from Xtaz. sperim. ugrar. itwl. 1907 41 241-257. Gompare Miintz and Nottin this vol. ii 88).-The nitrification of calcium cyauamide differs mainly from that of ammonium sulphate in that the former substance acts injuriously on the soil micro-organisms so long as it remaina undecomposed. The rate of nitrification is not particularly 'slow although in comparison with that of ammonium sulphate there is some retardation ; it is much quicker in clay soils and in those rich in organic matter but not acid than in sar,dy or chalky soils. The chief factors seem to be the water capacity and the absorptive power of the soils; the fermenting power is also important.E. J. R. The Influence of Oxygen on the Decomposition of Plants (Contribution to the Study of Humus Formation). DOMENICO CARBONE and RENATO MAHINCOLA-CATTANEO (Chenz. Zentr. 1908 ii 1049; from Arch. Farm. sperirn. 1908 7 265-301).-The decom- position of plants is mainly brought about by Eumycetes which break down the dead tissues chiefly in presence of oxygen but also in its absence. They not only attack the intracellular pectic substances but also the cellulose of the cell malls and in many cases even the starch. E. J. R. The Amounts of Caloium and Magnesium in Plant Seeds.ERNST SCHULZE and CH. GODET (Zeitsch. physiol. Ghem. 1908 58 156-161).-Analyses of the ashes of the husks and kernels of various seeds show that the husks contain relatively more calcium than magnesium but that the kernels are richer i n magnesium. The following numbers axe given 100 parts of ash contained Percent. A- of ash. K,O. CaO. BlgO. P205. Pinus Cemhra ............ Kernel ... 2.90 29.4 6.7 9'9 42.8 Husk ... - 44.9 12-6 11'0 3-2 Li~~nz6sangu:tifo lius... Iieruel ... 3.78 31.4 5.0 10.6 40.5 Husk ... - 27.5 38.7 9.4 6.1 Ctieurbita Pep0 ......... Kernel ... 3'67 18'5 1.1 19 0 85.8 Husk ... - 35.0 8.5 7'6 6'4 Ricinus cominunis ...... Kernel ... 3.64 - 4.0 19'8 31 9 Husk ... - 23.7 43'9 4.3 0.6 Helinntlzzrs annus ......Kernel ... 3.66 - 5'0 17'9 - Corglus nvcllnna ...... Kernel ... 3'09 - 9.6 15.5 - Amygdalis commzinis.. . Kernel ... 2 *86 - 12.8 13'4 - J. J. S. Juglnns regia ............ Kerncl ... 2.40 - 3.0 11.5 - The Nutritive Effect of Amides on the Germinating Seed the Detached Embryo and the Green Plant. JULES LEFBVRE (Compt. rend. 19OS 147 935-937).-The author has shown already (Abstr. 1905 ii 648) that green plants can develop perfectly and construct all their organic matter from tyrosine leucine oxamide alanine or glycine without being supplied with any carbon dioxide whatever. H e now shows that maize seeds will germinate and the 6-284 ABSTRACTS OF CEEMICAL PAPERS. young plant grow and increase in weight under the same conditions whilst the detached embryos of Pinus pinea will not; the latter however develop in a solution of sucrose.E. J. R. Transformation of Cyanogenetio Glucosides during Germination. LSON GUIGNARD (Compt. rend. 1908 147 1023-1028).-Etiolated seedlings of Phaseolus Zunutus lose in the first fortnight one-third of the phaseolunatin contained in the seed ; in seedlings grown in the light the disappearance of the glucoside is compensated for from the tenth day onwards by that which is synthesised in the leaves. Free hydrogen cyanide could not b0 detected at any stage ; it appears to be used up as soon as it is set free. G. B. The Relation between Plant Respiration and Alcoholio Fermentation. S. KOSTYTSCHEFF (Ber. deut. bot. Ges. 1908 26 a 565-573).-The reactions taking place during the normal respiration of plants have not yet been worked out experimentally although several schemes have been suggested.The author deals particularly with those hypotheses in which tho production of alcohol is supposed to be an intermediate stage namely (1) the plant sugar gives rise to alcohol which is then oxidised by enzymes t o carbon dioxide and water ; (2) the alcohol formed is not oxidised but is assimilated by the plant ; (3) the plant sugar decomposes in the same way as in alcoholic fermentation but the reaction does not go so far as alcohol production and the intermediate substances are oxidised. The author’s experiments were made with peas and in his view they confirm the last of these hypotheses. E. J. R. Correlations in Vegetable Metabolism. BARTHOLD HANSTEEN (Bied. Zentr.1908 37 7SS; from Landw. Jchb. 1908 262)- Under normal conditions every plant assimilates potassium mag- nesium and phosphoric acid in such a manner that each organ of the plant contains at all times the optimum amounts the amounts varying with different plants and different organs and according t o the period of growth. The single specific optima show certain variations ; exclusive addition of one of the substances modifies the process of nutrition which however again becomes normal when the usual conditions are restored. N. H. J. M. Glycogen of Ascomycetes and its Relaton to Trehalose. VLADIMIR A. TICHOMIROFF (Arch. Yhurna. 1908 246,582-59 l).-The investigations of Clautriau Errera and others having shown that glycogen probably serves as a reserve material and for this purpose is first hydrolysed into sugars it becomes of interest to investigate the relationship in the fungi of glycogen and trehalose the latter being the characteristic sugar of this class of plants.In all cases the distribution of glycogen mas determined mainly by staining microscopic preparations with iodine and the distribution and nature of the sugars by Senft’s micro-chemical method with phenylbydrazine in glycerol (Abstr. 1904 ii 595).VEGETABLE PEYSIOLOCTY AND AGRICULTURE. 85 The young asci of Terfeexia transcaucasica show much glycogen and the fully ripe ones scarcely any. With Senft's reagent yellow spherulites of trehalosephenylosazone are iformed. Similarly F. Boudieri gave minute spherulites of osazone after two months and a preparation kept in Fehling's solution showed slight reduction in the neighbourhood of some of the cell contents.T. Leonis was found to be rich in glycogen especially the fructification and in this case osazone crystals appeared after a month. Choiromyces nteandr~mmis Hydnotricl carnea Tuber mdanosporum T. brumale 2'. rufum 2'. Borchii F. maculatum 2'. magnatum 2'. aestivum and 2'. excavatum were also examined. The first second and seventh were found to contain glycogen and also yielded spherulitea of osazone after about one month especially in the stalks and contents of the young asci. The other species mentioned had all developed ripe spores and con- tained no glycogen but they formed small amounts of osazone crystals after two or three months' treatment with Senft's reagent A preparation of T.meZclnospo~*um showed no reduction when warmed in Fehling's solution. The alga Nostoc prungorrne and Fucus platycarpus were also examined and yielded after two months crystals of tbe same phenyl- osazone which may be that of dextrose galactose or fucose. T. A. H. Occurrence of Glycyrrhizic Acid in Plants. ALEXANDER TSCHIRCH and S. GAUCHUANN (Arch. Pharm. 1908 246 558-565. Compare Abstr. 1908 i 898).-In extension of previous work on the isolation and characterisation of the glycyrrhizic acid of liquorice root the authors have investigated the sweet root of Periandra dulcis and the bark of Pradosia Zuctescens and find that these also contain glycyrrhizic acid although from the second of these products it was ob- tained in the form of a dihydrate. The method of preparing the acid described by Tschirch and Cederberg (Abstr.1907 i 545) is not applicable in the case of the bark of Pradosia Zactescens or in those of the root of A6rus precatorius and the rhizome of Polypodium vulgare in which glycyrrhizic acid also occurs. T. A. H. Physiological Mechanism of the Coloration of Red Grapes and of Autumn Leaves. J. LABORDE (Compt. rend. 1908 147 993-995. Compare Abstr. 1908 ii 774).-Certain tannins such as gallotannin which are not transformed into a red colouring matter by heating with hydrochloric acid (Zoc. cit.) nevertheless yield such a pigment by exposure to light in hydrochloric acid solution in the presence of formaldehyde. The latter substance often assumed to occur in plants is compared to a ferment; the hydrochloric acid merely produces a favourable medium and the absence of pigmenta- tion in white grapes is regarded as due to an unfavourable medium.G. B. Alkaloids of the Tubers of Corydalis cam. ERNST SCHMIUT (Arch. Pharm. 1908 246 575-582).-The isolation of protopine and dehydrocorydaline from the tubers of CorydaZis clmbigzla (Abstr.,86 ABSTRACTS OF CHEMICAL PAPERS. 1908 i 825) and C. Vernyi (ibid. 908) has led the authors t o re- examine the tubers of C. cavu for these alkaloids (compare Abstr. 1897 i 174; 1898 i 604). Haars has already shown that the stem and leaves of C. cava do not contain protopine (Abstr. 1905 i 462). Dehydrocorydaline was obtained and identified by means of the aurichloride and by its reduction to i-corydaline. An alkaloid which may be protopine was obtained mixed with bulbocapnine from which it could not be separated.No protopine could be obtained from the seeds of C. nobilis or C . lutea. T. A. H. Analysis of the Tubercule of Dioscorea macabiha from Madagascar. EMILE BOURQUELOT and BRIDEL (J. Pharm. Chim. 1908 Liv] 28 494-500).-The tubercules of this plant which are reputed to be poisonous contain no alkaloid or glucoside hydrolysable by emulsin. Starch sucrose a reducing sugar and three enzymes invertase amylase and an anzeroxy dase were detected. The toxicity may be due to a toxin. T. A. H. Oils from Lycopodium Ergot Areca Nut and Aleuritse cordata Seed ARNOLD RATHJE (Arch. PImrm. 1908,246 692-709). -Authentic specimens of these oils have been examined with the view of establishing their chief constants and their composition.The methods of investigation employed are given in detail in the original. Lycopodium contains 49.2% of a greenish-yellow oil which is acid in reaction and has D 0.93617 nD 1.4671 saponification number 195.0 acid number 18.6 iodine number 81.0 Hehner number 88.0 Reichert-Meissl number 7.3 and true acetyl value 44.1. The mixed fatty acids have m. p. 39-40' neutralisation value 202.0 and iodine number 91%. The percentage composition of the oil is lycopodoleic acid 81 lycopodic acid (dihydroxystearic acid) 3.2 stearic acid 1.13 palmitic acid 0.85 myristic acid 2.0 glycerol 7.8 unsaponifiable matter 0.43 and inorganic matter 0.03 (compare Langer Abstr. 1889 741 1059). Ergot oil is dark brown in colour with a slightly irritant taste.Its constants in the order given above for lycopodium oil are D 0 9250 4ZD 1.4685 179.3 11.38 74.0 96.25 0.63 27-44 and for the mixed fatty acids m. p. 38-39' 183-0 77*2. The percentage composition of the oil is oleic acid 68 hydroxyoleic acid 22 palmitic acid 5 un- saponifiable matter 0.35 inorganic matter 0.2 alkaloid 0.6 and glycerol 7.5 (compare Mjoen Abstr. 1896 ii 506). Two samples of areca nut fat were examined the first having been extracted by ether ( A ) and the second by light petroleum (B). The constants in the order given under lycopodium oil are as follows; those for sample A are given first in each case. Oil D = 0.884 0.973 ; 91.45 ; 0*2,4*2 ; I1 '2 9-81; mixed fatty acids m. p. 39O 39-40'; 229 6 235.5 ; 25.95 13.6. The percentage composition of the mixed fatty acids in the two cases was lauric 43.6 53.3; myristic 21.0 24.7; palmitic 3.1 24.7; stearic 2.25 3.3 ; oleic 29.0 14.5 ; decoic 1.0 1.0.Sample B also yielded traces of hexoic and octoic agida. The other 3. p. 36-37' 37-38'; 227.4 234.6 ; 91.1 97.2 ; 24.3 12.3 ; 92.76,VEGETABLE PHYSIOLOGY AND AGRICULTURE. 87 constituents of the two fats in percentages were unsaponifiable matter 1-0 glycerol 5.0 and inorganic matter 0*02-0*03 and ~ o m e phytosterol. Two samples of oil from the kernels of Aleurites cordata (T'ung oil) were examined the one of Chinese (No. I) and the other of Japanese (11) origin. The constants in the usual order and with those of No. I first in each case were oil D 0.9383 0,9393 ; n 1.503 1.504 ; 191.5 189.9 ; 10.4 2.1 ; 156.2 153.2 ; 96.05 96.48; 1.04 0.55 ; 105 13.42 ; mixed fatty acids m.p. 39-40' 40-41O; 189.4 188.0; 163.4 160-3. The percentage composition of the oils was fatty acids 95.6 96.0; glycerol 9.5 8.7; unsaponifiable matter 0.45 0.48 and inorganic matter 0*001 and nil. I n both cases the fatty acids con- sisted of elmmargaric acid 75% and oleic acid 25% (compare Abstr. 1898 i 628; 1899 i S64). JULIA T. EMERSON and WILLIAM H. WELKER (J. Biol. Chern. 1908 5 339-350).-The tuber of this plant contains proteins carbohydrates (woody fibre with small amounts of sugar and starch) fat cholesterol lecithin and salts. It is used as a cathartic and in large doses is stated to be poisonous. No alkaloid was found and the substance responsible for its action was not discovered.Soils of Acid Reaction. YOSHINAO KOZA (Chrn. Zed. 1908 32 1187).-The author cites an instance of a peculiar acid-reacting soil in Nischigahara near Tokio. It contains hydrated silicates more especially clays and when a sample quite free from humus is washed with water the acidity of the soil remains unchanged and no soluble acid is dissolved out but after the addition of a soluble neutral salt such as potassium chloride or ammonium sulphate a soluble acid is at once detected. The potassium or ammonium appears to be absorbed by the clay causing liberation of hydrochloric or sulphuric acid and consequently after dressing such a soil with potassium or ammonium manures! worse results are obtained than previously. Fixation of Ammonia by Zeolites in Soils.THEODOR PFEIFFEH ALBE~T HEPNER and L. FRANK (Bied. Zentr. 1908 37 722-723 ; from Mitt. Iandw. Inst. I%. U%v. Breslau 1908 4)- Barley followed by oats were grown in pots in sand manured with blood meal ammonium sulphate and minerals and in similarly prepared pots with different amounts of calcium carbonate and calcium zeolite (prepared by treating apophyllite with calcium chloride) respectively. It was found as in previous experiments (Bied. Zentr. 1905 510) that the absorbed ammonia was held so firmly by the calcium zeolite T. A. H. Composition and Toxicity of Ibervillea sonorae. W. D. H. J. V. E. that it was only partly available for the second period of vegetation. N. H. J M. Sodium Chloride Experiments with Mangolds. HERMANN BRIEM (Bied. Zentr. 1908 37 73 1-732 ; from Deut.Iandw. Presse 1907 89).-Application of sodium chloride (2 cwt. per hectare)88 ABSTRACTS OF CHEMICAL PAPERS. in addition to superphosphate and sodium nitrate increased the yields of three varieties of mangolds (roots) and also the amount of sugar as compared with superphosphate and nitrate only. The amount of leaf was considerably increased in the case of the more leafv varietv. but slightly reduced in the case of the less leafy roots (Ecklndorferj.' N. H. J. M. The Impurities of Uhili Saltpetre. The Possibility of Using a Less-reflned Saltpetre. SANTE DE GRAXIA (Chem Zen& 1908 ii 1199; from Stax. sperim. agrar. itcd. 1907 41 258-269).-The author finds that the common impurities of Chili saltpetre (sodium chloride and magnesium sulphate) are beneficial t o vegetation whether applied alone or in conjunction with the pure nitrate.Potassium iodide is without effect. A less-refined saltpetre (not containing potassium perchlorate however) might therefore be used for manure. E. J. B Manurial Experiments with Two Commercial Forms of Calcium Cyanamide Sodium Nitrate and Ammonium Sulphate applied to Mangolds. RICHARD OTTO (Bied. Zentr. 1908 37 787; from Deut. Zandw. Presse 1908 35 No. I).-Ammonium sulphate and '' stickstoffkalk '* gave the highest results (991 and 984 cwt.) then " kalkstickstoff " (891 cwt.) and lastly sodium nitrate (864 cwt.). The yield without nitrogen was 553 cwt. per hectare. N. H. J. M. The Employment of Calcium Cyanamide in Agriculture. ACHILLE MUNTZ and P. NOTTIN (Compt. rend 1908 147 902-906 ; compare Sante de Grazia this vol.ii 83).-The authors have studied the nitrification of calcium cyanamide in the soil and find that the process varies somewhat with the amount present but is in the main Suf- 2 cient of each of these substances was mixed with soil to add 0.25 gram of N per kilo. and the quantity of nitrate produced per kilo. after definite intervals was found to be uite comparable with the nitrification of ammonium sulphate. Relative amounts of nitrate at 2 39 theend of 8 days. 15 days. 33 days. months. months. 5months. Calcium-cyanamide.. - 0.003 - 0.011 0'030 0.068 0.204 100 Ammonium sulphate 0'039 0.149 - - 0.247 88 Dried blood ............ 0'048 0.111 - - 0.154 66 Torrified leather. ..... 0.003 0.024 - - 0.037 26 The large amount of cyanamide used in this experiment (10 to 20 times the quantity customary in practice) at first inhibited nitrifica- tion and even caused some denitrification but later on exercised no disturbing effect. Smaller amounts had no inhibiting effect ; indeed by successively adding small quantities to the soil it is possible for large amounts to become nitrified especially in soils where nitrification is vigorous. These show that (1) calcium cyanamide gives substantially the same crop increases as ammonium Numerous field trials are recorded.ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY. 89 sulphate; (2) it does not in practice have the injurious effect on germination that would be expected from laboratory experiments and can without any bad results be applied to the soil on the same day a8 the seed is sown; (3) it can be used as a top-dressing and the slight resulting injury to the plant is only temporary E. J. R.