I S D L S T R I A L A X D TRADE S O T E S . t h e great need of immediate and effective cooperative work on this subject. A large stock of the samples which were distributed this year is still on hand and should prove of the greatest value to the cooperators in this most important work. As stated in the preliminary report on the work of this year, the committee believes that standard methods alone are not sufficient to ensure uniformity. It is evident that considerable familiarity and experience with any method is required before dependable results can be obtained by it. For this reason i t seems that standard methods should be accompanied by standard samples so that every chemist interested can obtain them for the purpose df verifying his work from time to time. C. F. HAGEDORX.
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sorted out more thoroughly so that all the analytical matter would appear together and so be rnore directly accessible. It is a question whether the theoretical part is not largely over the heads of those who have had no previous technical training, but it is all very suggestive and \vi11 doubtless prove a grateful reminder to those already conversant with the subject. V.‘ D. HORNE.
INDUSTRIAL AND TRADE NOTES.
Air-“Vitrates in Ger~nany.-Consul-General A. &I. Thackara, of Berlin, answers as follows the queries of an i\merican correspondent regarding the manufacture of air-nitrates and the status of farming in Germany: BOOK REVIEWS AND NOTICES. -4tmospheric nitrogen is utilized in making nitrates for fer___ tilizing purposes, in accordance with two general systems in Beet Sugar Making and Its Chemical Control. By Y. SIKAIDO, Germany, as well as in Norway, Italy, and other European counB S c , S1.A. Easton, P a . . The Chemical Pub1 shing Co., 1909. ( I ) The formation of the so-called calcatries, and in Canada. Octavo, x,i + 354 pp. 6j illustrations. $3.00 net. reous nitrogen (kalckstickstoff), which has the chemical formula The author states that this book is intended as an aid to Ca(CS)N, and which is formed by passing nitrogen over heated those engaging in beet sugar manufacture, who lack systematic calcium carbide,or through a heated mixture of lime and charcoal, and ( 2 ) the direct combination of the elements in the airtechnical training in the matter. This the author undertakes to supply in an unusual manner oxygen and nitrogen-by the use of the electric spark and the in a series of chapters on general chemistry and sugar house formation of nitrate by bringing these combinations into contact processes, both manufacturing and analytical, which view with the proper calcium or other components. There are several processes by means of which the nitrogen, the entire field broadly and specifically. After a chapter on definitions of chemical terms follows one on the non-meta‘lic which combines with the calcium carbide in the formation of elements. The novel method of presentation is instanced calcareous nitrogen, is separated from the oxygen of the air. here, where under Kitrogen” we find a discussion of ammonia One is by passing air over the copper coils by means of which in beet juice and the difficulties arising therefrom; under “Chlor- the oxygen is removed. Another process is to ‘obtain free ine” directions for preparation of normal hydrochloric acid nitrogen by the partial evaporation of liquefied air. The great expense attending this latter process renders it impracticable, and other normal solutions, acidimetry, alkalimetry, etc. and the nitrogen so obtained is still much mixed with oxygen Chapter 111, in similar manner, deals with the principal metallic elements, giving various collateral information about compounds. Sitrogen is also obtained by one German firm lime and iron and an analytical method for the determination in Hamburg and Hanover by cooling the gases of combustion of copper. Then follow chapters on Organic Chemistry (30 and removing the impurities by passing the gases through retorts filled with copper and copper oxides and then through some pages) and Cane Sugar ( I j pages) setting forth the classification of organic compounds and giving the properties of sugar and substance that absorbs the carbon dioxide. The so-called calcareous nitrogen obtained by the various its compounds met with in beet sugar manufacture. processes is a grayish substance containing about 20 per cent. The well-arranged chapter on the “Polariscope and I t s Accessories” is accompanied by numerous well-designed illus- nitrogen. As a fertilizer it is generally supposed to be as efficient trations, and treats the subject in a clear, comprehensive manner. as ammonium sulphate and but little inferior to saltpeter. Other laboratory apparatus is discussed and directions given The exact effect of the cyanide in the compound is as yet not understood. By heating, the whole of the nitrogen in the comfor determination of sucrose, total solids and purity. pound is changed into ammonia, from which ammonium sulChapter VI11 deals with the “Practical Operations of the phate may be formed. The practicability of the production Beet Sugar House” and describes in considerable detail the of calcareous nitrogen depends upon cheap power supply, and operations, from the harvesting of the beet to the last process hence the plants are generally located where water power is in making white sugar and the recovery of sugar from molasses. available. The substance is produced in many different countries This chapter, giving the limits within which good work should and the estimated total production for 1908 was about q j , O O O be conducted a t the various stations, will be found of considerable tons. value to those engaged in this work. A final chapter on ’ Special The second system by which nitrates are obtained by the direct Analysis” (39 pages) takes up all the analytical determinations ordinarily needed, not already described, with formulae for combination of the oxygen and nitrogen of the air is much more calculation of results and many examples to make the matter recent in its development than the above. Sfter numerous attempts had been made in various countries, the Norwegian plain. inventors, Birkeland and Eyde, finally succeeded in making An Appendix contains a few tables most commonly used in the process industrially practicable (described in a monograph sugar work. on “Manufacture of Air-Xitrates” recently published by the I n viewing the book broadly it is a clever compilation of Bureau of Manufactures). According to their system, the end material from a dozen or more authoritative treatises on various of each of the electric poles through which a current is passing subjects so brought together as to bear most closely on beet- is exposed to the action of the magnet \l-hich causes sugar making, considered chemically. the electric spark to spread out into a disk-like flame. This The book is essentially a mixture that one could wish to see flame is surrounded by some material that resists combustion, ‘ I
