ii. 60 ABSTRACTS OF CHEMICAL PAPERS. Chemistry of Vegetable Physiology and Agriculture. The Degradation by Bacteria of the Ultimate Hydrolysis Products of Proteins. WALTHER BRASCH (Biochem. Zeitsch. 1909 22 403-406).-The degradation of various amino-acids by BaciZZw putrifcus and by mixed putrefying bacteria was investigated. Aspartic acid yields with mixed cultures propionic acid as chief product together with small quantities of succinic acid. The pure culture gave the same products together with small quantities of formic acid. Serine yielded both with pure and mixed cultures propionic acid with small quantities of formic acid. Tyrosine yielded with the pure culture p-hydroxyphenylpropionic acid. Glycine with the pure culture yielded acetic acid alanine yielded propionic acid and aminobutyric acid yielded butyric acid.S. B. S. Accumulation of Nitrogen in Soils by Free Bacteria. ALFRED KOCH (J. Landw. 1909,5’7 269-386. Compare Abstr. 1908 ii 56). -A continuation of the experiments made in 1905 and 1906 (Zoc. cit.) on the effect of sugar on fixation of nitrogen by Azotobactsr. The results show a considerable after-effect increased yields of buckwheat oats and wheat being obtained in 1907 1908 and 1909 and that the increased yields diminish regularly each year Experiments with sand inoculated with soil showed a gain of 7.2 mg. N per 100 grams in four months when sugar was added; and vegetation experiments with buckwheat grown in sand showed a very greatly increased production of dry matter (98.1 grams) in presence of sugar as compared with the amount obtained without sugar (23.7 grams) whilst the amounts of nitrogen in the produce were 409 and 54 mg.respectively. Further experiments in plots ($ square metre) with wheat rye and oats (in 1907 1908 and 1909) showed that the nitrogen fixed in the first year was only utilised to a slight extent whilst the yields were considerably increased in the second and third years. The examination of fifteen different soils showed that Azotobacter was present in seven of them whilst eight gave negative results. The latter included three light sandy soils peaty light and heavy soils and soil from a pine wood. Addition of sugar to three of these soils failed to produce an increase in the nitrogen content. Experiments are described in which manni tol dextrose calcium succinate glycerol calcium butyrate (10 grams each) and xylan (5 grams) were added to soil (500 grams) which was kept for a month a t 2 5 O .The soil with mannitol and with dextrose gained 12.3 and 6.9 mg. nitrogen per 100 grams respectively whilst the others lost nitrogen (0.8 to 5.3 mg.). N. H. J. M. Production of Citric Acid by Citromyces. PIERRE M A Z ~ (Ann. Inst. Pasteur 1909 23 830-833).-Citric acid is produced not only when there is a deficiency of nitrogen but also when any one of theVEGETABLE PHYS~OLOGY AND AGRICULTURE. ii. 61 indispensable substances (phosphorus potassium iron or zinc etc.) is absent or deficient. A mineral solution in which iron or zinc is wanting gives on addition of sucrose (1 0%) a very insignificant amount of growth.It will however produce in a few weeks relatively important amounts of citric acid. The mechanism of the formation of citric acid is discussed (compare Buchner and Wiistenfeld Abstr. 1909 ii 602). F u n g i which Produce Citric Acid. CARL WEHMER (Chem. Zeit. 1909 33 1281).-In 1892 the author discovered two moulds which can convert sugar into citric acid (Abstr. 1893 ii 591). Since then the number has been extended and he has now isolated five or six others morphologically much alike capable of effecting the same change. Citrornyces To&?ens~unus is characterised by its snow-white appearance in mass culture although microscopically i t differs but little from t h e others. Another species possesses the remarkable property of thriving in a saturated solution of oxalic acid (containing about 10% of acid) ; the hardiest mould previously known (Aspergihs miger) can only withstand about 1% whilst most organisms are adversely affected by a trace.Another organism gives rise to oxalic instead of citric acid but some oxalic acid (or rather its calcium salt) is always found in old cultures as a decomposition product of the citrate. E. J. R. N. H. J. M. Theory of Disinfection. I. The Disinfecting Action of Phenol 111. HEINRICH REICHEL (Biochem. Zeitsch. 1909 22 $01-231. Compare Abstr 1909 ii 1045).-The assumption is made that the disinfecting action depends on the coefficient of distribution of the disinfectant between the two phases namely the bacteria and the disinfecting solution. The disinfecting action of phenol in the presence of varying quantities of sodium chloride was determined suspensions of typhus bacilli and staphylococci being employed.The time of exposure to the solutions just necessary to kill the cultures was determined the method of sub-culturing being employed. The curves obtained were submitted to mathematical analysis and the factors influencing the distribution of the disinfectant between two phases such as imbibition of water by the protein etc. discussed. S. B. S. Influence of Varying Relations between Lime and Mag- nesia on the Growth of Plants. LUIGI BERNADINI and A. SINIRCALCHI (Chem. Zentr. 1909 ii 857 ; from Stax. sper. agrar. ital. 1909 42 369-386).-The injurious effect of an excess of calcium and the poisonous action of an excess of magnesium do not depend on the absolute amounts of calcium and magnesium ions taken up but on the relation of the amounts absorbed by the plant to each other.The assimilated phosphoric acid is a function of the relation C'aO/MgO in the nutritive medium and depends on the relation of the calcium and magnesium ions in which these are absorbed. Formation of Btarch from Sorbitol in Rolsaceae. 0. TBEBOWX (Bsr. Dsut. bot. Ges. 1909 27 507-511),-Experiments with N. H. J. M.ii. 62 ABSTRACTS OF CHEMICAL PAPEREI. numerous varieties of Pomoidece Pvunoidece Spiraeoidea showed that all of them are able to produce starch from sorbitol whilst negative results were obtained with two other sub-orders Rosoidem and Ruboidece and with the related orders of the Saxifi*agince and Leguminosce.None of the plants which produce starch from sorbitol are able to utilise mannitol and dulcitol. As compared with sugars and glycerol the production of starch from sorbitol is almost always much more vigorous. Sorbitol has up to the present only been found in fruits but further investigation will probably show that it occurs in leaves and other parts of plants. N. H. J. M. Influence of Aluminium Salts on the Colour of Flowers VALENTIN VOUK (Bied. Zentr. 1909 38 755-756; from Oesterr. bot. Zeitsch. 1909 58 336-243).-Plants of Hydrangea hortensis watered with a 3% solution of alum produced flowers of a fine blue colour; at the same time brown spots appeared on the leaves which died a t an early stage. The best results were obtained with 1% solutions which had no injurious effect whilst the production of blue flowers was nearly complete.When aluminium sulphate was employed the coloration was less strong. Experiments with Phlox decussatu gave negative results. N. H. J. M. Protective Action of Sodium f o r Plants. W. J . V. OSTERHOUT (Bied. Zentr. 1909 38 730-731 ; from Juhrb. wiss. Bot. 1908 46 121-136).-Water and soil culture experiments in which roots algae and moulds etc. were supplied with single salts and with mixtures showed that the poisonous action of calcium is diminished by addition of small amounts of a sodium salt. The antagonism between sodium and calcium salts is stronger than between sodium magnesium and potassium salts. The conclusion is drawn that sodium is not a nutrient but a pro- tective substance for plants and probably for animals.Salts of aluminium zinc and cobalt have a protective action for animals and salts of calcium for fungi. N. H. J. M. Molecular Complexity of Caoutchouc in the Milk. F. WILLY HINRICHSEN and ERICH KINDSCHER (Ber. 1909 42 4329-4331).-The form in which caoutchouc occurs in the milk of caoutchouc-yielding plants is still unknown Weber claiming that the milk contains a hydrocarbon which polymerises to caoutchouc during the technical preparation of the substance (Abstr. 1903 i 8451 whilst de Jong and Tromp de Haas (Abstr. 1904 ii 762) assert that caoutchouc occurs already prepared in the milk ; Harries also holds the latter view (Abstr. 1904 i 1038). The authors have centrifugalised Kickxia milk with pure benzene until an approximately clear solution is obtained containing the caoutchouc and the caoutchouc-reain. The depression of the freezing point of this solution is determined ; the residue is weighed after evaporation of the solvent and extracted with acetone to remove the resin.The mole-VEGETABLE PHYSIOLOGY AND AGRICULTURE. ii. 63 cular weight of the latter in benzene is 426 and by calculation the molecular weight of the caoutchouc is found to be 3173 a result which does not support Weber's view. c. s. Influence of Anesthetics and of Cold on Coumarin- producing Plants. EDOUARD HECKEL (Compt. rend. 1909 149 829-531. Compare Guignard Abstr. 1909 ii 823 ; Mirande ibid. ii 834).-The odour of coumarin in plants such as Anthoxanthum odoratum or MeZiZotus oficinalis is only perceptible in the dried leaf but is rapidly developed in the living leaves when these are submitted to the action of anesthetics or of cold.The author confirms the generality of similar phenomena observed by Guignard in the case of Cruciferae and has extended the experiments to LepidiuTn Zztifoliurn and CocJdearia armoracia. w. 0. w. Ajuga Iva. Uao PONTI (Gccxxetta 1909 39 ii 349-353).-The plant Ajuga Im which is largely employed in the ceighbourhood of Sassari as a remedy for malarial fever contains no alkaloids buk on distillation in a current of steam yields a small quantity of a green oil having a characteristic aromatic odour. When treated with milk of lime the herb yields ferulic acid which probably exists in the plant in combination with phloroglucinol thus >C*OH ,C(OMe)*CH C(OH)*CH oH'C<CH==CH> C*CH CH* CO C<C(OH) c~ this structure being analogous to that of homoeriodic tyol (compare Power and Tutin Trans.1907 91 887). Presence of Aucubin in Different Varieties of Aucuba Japonica. C. LEBAS (J. Pharin. Cliim. 1909 [vi] 30 390-392).- Six garden varieties of this plant namely elegantiasiina Zatimaculata Zongifolia punctata salicifolia and vii'idis have been examined and found t o contain aucubin (Bourquelot and HBrissey Abstr. 1902 i 634) which was isolated in the manner desciibed already (Zoc. cit.). The quantity obtained varied from 0.3% for elegantissima to 1.9% for Zatimacukutu. T. A. H. T. H. I?. Occurrence of a Cyanogenetic Glucoside in Linaria Striata. $MILE BOURQUELOT (J. Pharm. Chim. 1909 30 3S5-389).-The plant was extracted with alcohol and the concentrated extract dissolved as far as possible in an aqueous solution of thymol.This aqueous extract contained (1) sucrose identified by its resolution into '' invert sugar " by the action of invertase and (2) a cyanogenetic glucoside hydrolysed by emulsin into benzaldehyde hydrogen cyanide and a reducing sugar probably dextrose. The amount of dextrose produced was in excess of that required for any known glucoside producing benzaldehyde so that probably a second glucoside was present in the extract. T. A. H. Existence of Two New Glucosides Decomposable by a Ferment in Primula officinalis. A. GORIS and MASCRE (Compt. rend. 1909 149 947-960). -The fresh roots of Primula ofiicinalis,ii. 64 ABSTRACTS OF CHEMICAL PAPERS.like those of other species of Primula emit a characteristic odour when bruised. This appears to be due 40 interaction between two ,glucosides and an enzyme for which the name primeverase is suggested. The new ferment has been shown not t o be identical with emulsin myrosin or betulase. Details are given of the method employed in isolating the glucosides primeverin and primulaverin. The former occurs in colourless crystals m. p. 172-173O [aID - 60*24O whilst the latter forms needles m. p. 160-161° [a] - 66-86' Both are hydrolysed by dilute sulphuric acid disengaging an odour of anise and furnishing a substance which in the case of primeverin develops a bright blue coloration with ferric chloride and a lilac-violet coloration in the case of primulaverin. IV. 0.w. Localisation of Proteolytic Ferments in Vaeconcellea quercifolia. The Rennet and Spontaneously Coagulable Latex. C. GERBER (Compt. rend. 1909 149 737-740. Compare Abstr. 1909 ii 512 824).-Unlike the majority of plants the foliaceous ribs of Vasconcellea quercifolia show greater rennet activity than the parenchyma. Other parts of the plant show similar divergence from the general rule. This appears to be connected with the proportion of latex in the organs since for example the ribs are richer in latex than the parenchyma. On the other hand the presence of a milky latex such as that of the chestnut is not invariably associated with marked proteolytic activity. - The rennet activity of V. pwrcifolia Funtumia elastics htocarpus incisa and A . integrifolia shows some proportionality to the readiness with which the sap undergoes spontaneous coagulation.w. 0. w. Action of Different Amounts of Copper in t h e Soil on tbe Growth of Plants. J. SIMON (Landw. Versuchs.-Stat. 1909 71 417-429).-Mustard and barley were grown in a mixed soil in sand in garden soil and in a clay soil to which small amounts of copper sulphate were added. In the mixed soil the yield of mustard was reduced by about 11-13% by 0.001 and 0.01% of copper sulphate and to 83 and 0.5% by 0.1 and 0.5% respectively whilst the plants were killed by 1%. Barley isless sensitive being unaffected by 0.001% of copper sulphate and remaining alive in presence of 1%. With regard to the sand and other soils the experiments showed that copper sulphate is most poisonous in sand and least in the garden soil.Experiments on the absorptive power of the soils shoved that 100 grams of the garden soil absorbed 1.252 grams of copper sulphate whilst the mixed soil and the clay soil absorbed 0.378 and 0.111 respectively and the sand none at all. N. H. J. M. Depositioc of Nitrogen in Full-grown Animals with Abundant Food. KURT FRISKE (Landw. Versuchs.-Xtat. 1909 71 440-482).-The results of the experiments of Lawes and Gilbert (Phil. Tmns. 1869 493) on the changes in the composition of animals when fattened showed that the gain is chiefly in fat (two-thirds) and water (one-fourth) and includes only a very small amount of nitro- genous matter. The experiments were made chiefly with youngVEGETABLE PHYSIOLOGY AND AGRICULTURE. ii. 65 animals.More recent experiments with f ully-grown animals have also indicated on the whole that the gain in animals when fattened consists almost exclusively of fat. In the experiments now described eight full grown sheep (over four years old) were fed for six months on moderate amounts of hay. They were then shorn weighed and two of them killed and analysed. Two of them were then fed for about one hundred days on a nitrogenous diet of hay (450) beans (300) and sunflower cake (260 grams per day). The nutritive ratio was 1 2.88. Two others were fed with a less nitrogenous diet (1 5-02) consisting of hay (450) beans (270) and crushed barley (290 grams per day). The remaining two were reserve sheep which were not however required. At the commencement in the middle and at the end of the fatten- ing period the sheep were kept for ten to eleven days in stalls for the collection of urine and faxes which were weighed and analysed.Finally the animals were again shorn weighed and then analysed. The analytical results showed that during fattening the sheep put on considerable amounts of flesh the greater gain being in the sheep with the nutritive ratio 1 5.02. The results of the balance experi- ments indicated a greater deposition of nitrogenous matter than the direct analysis. The gain in fat was greater than the gain in flesh in both experiments. N. H. J. M. Soil Analysis. JAMES HARVEY PETTIT (J. Landw. 1909 57 237-267 ; from Inaug. Db. Gottingen 1909).-The method of Schloesing and von Sigmond mas employed with six different soils.The results showed very clearly a definite natural limit of solubility for phosphoric acid; and when the basicity of the soil is allowed for the concentration of acid which acts uniformly lies between fairly definite limits 400-800 mg. N,O per litre. The method also makes distinction between readily soluble and spar- ingly soluble potash but a uniformly acting concentration was only found in the case of the loam. The relation between the percentages of total phosphoric acid and total potash is not the same as the relation between the amounts soluble in dilute nitric acid. Muschechalk contains more total but much less readily soluble phosphoric acid than Buntsandstein. The results of vegetation experiments agreed with the soil analyses in the case of loam and Muschechalk soils. The amounts of phosphoric acid and potash assimilated by barley beans buckwheat and potatoes are not the same as the amounts dissolved by dilute nitric acid. The different plants moreover take u p very different amounts of these substances-buckwheat assimilated 3-5 times as much potash and twice as much phosphoric acid as barley; so that no one solvent can possibly indicate the amounts of nutritive substances available to all plants. It is therefore desirable t o employ the term “ readily soluble ” instead of “ available.” N. H. J M. VOL. XCVIII. ii. 5