Botany, Entomology, and Physics in 1934 CHEMISTRY is? treated in greater detail than is here possible in our review article which will appear in the January, 1935, issue
ADHERENCE
Advances in Botany F. E. D E N N Y , Boyce Thompson Institute for Plant Research, Inc., Yonkers, N . Y. S E E D FORMATION OF P L A N T S
PRODUCT I N N I T R O G E N
R I C H S O U R C E OF B-CAROTENE
Brown finds that the Perfection Pimento is a rich source of /3-carotene, apparently free from cx-carotene. GROWTH HORMONES
Went, Kogl, Haagen-Smit, Erxleben, Skoog, and Thimann continue the experiments emphasizing the importance of hormones which influence the growth of plants. A new hormone called "hetero-auxin" was isolated from urine. It is formed in the metabolism of the lower plants (yeasts, fungi, etc.) just as auxin-a and auxin-b are formed in higher plants. Hetero-auxin responds t o biological tests in precisely the same way as auxins-a and -b, but it has a lower molecular weight and contains nitrogen. Synthetically produced B-indolyl-acetic acid appears to be identical with hetero-auxin. Tip buds of various plant species inhibit the growth of lateral buds by means of a growth hormone which is produced in the tip bud and which diffuses or is transported downward. This influence on t h e lateral bud is obtained if the tip bud is removed and is replaced by pieces of agar containing the relatively purified preparations of auxin-a and -b, or heteroauxin. T h e inhibition of growth b y x-rays is thought to be due t o a destruction of the growth hormone by the radiation. A hormone which initiates root development is reported and is called "rhizocaline." It is closely related to the auxins but may not be identical with any of them.
In order to avoid the excessive leaching of potassium compounds from sugar cane soils in Hawaii, Hance incorporated the fertilizer into briquets, using powdered sodium silicate as a binder, pressing into shape in a hydraulic press (about 4000 lb.). These briquets when planted in the soil resisted rapid disintegration, b u t gave up their incorporated soluble fertilizers slowly and continuously, the rate being subject to regulation b y the proportion of binder and fertilizer used in preparing the briquets. TOBACCO L E A V E S IMMUNIZED
Kunkel showed that tobacco leaves inoculated previously with the virus of certain strains of mosaic disease were rendered immune to the diseases produced b y certain other strains. An interval of about two days after inoculation was required for immunity t o develop. It appears possible that by t h e use of attenuated virus, which produces slight injury to t h e inoculated plant, effective immunity against the unattenuated and more destructive strains can be obtained. T h e principles underlying this work with plants are the same as those involved in t h e vaccination of man and other animals against their diseases. OF A C T I V E V I R U S
OF C E R T A I N
PLANT
Advances in Entomology VARIOUS CHEMICALS AS I N S E C T R E P E L L E N T S
SOME SUBSTANCES, such as the terpene esters, one of which is santalyl acetate, the dialkyl phthalates, as well as butyl and higher alkyl esters of salicylic acid, are evidently repellent to certain species of flies, such as the housefly, although some are apparently odorless t o man. Their use in cattle sprays and household sprays is being tested. The esters were apparently better repellents than their alcohols.
DISEASES
C U R L Y - T O P D I S E A S E OF S U G A R B E E T S
C. W. Bennett made a distinct advance in the study of the curly-top disease of sugar beets by showing that the virus is localized in the phloem tissue of diseased plants. By cutting across the petioles or the beet tops t h e liquid which exuded in small drops from the cut ends of the vascular bundles was found t o be high in virus content. With this phloem exudate artificial inoculations without the use of insect vectors were successful in many cases, and insects which fed upon the exudate were more virulent than those fed on plant juice. In feeding on t h e leaf, the mouth parts of the insect penetrate unerringly t o the phloem tissue from which t h e insect derives its food. Thus, virus is removed from diseased plants and deposited again in the phlo§m of healthy plants, in which place the conditions are most favorable for its rapid multiplication and distribution t o other parts of the plant.
NUTS
E X I S T E N C E OF CHLOROPHYLL U N I T I N PHOTOSYNTHESIS
METABOLISM
P. R. White has developed a technic for keeping on hand at all times a supply of active virus of certain plant diseases in pure form uncontaminated with other viruses. He does this b y cultivating virus-containing tomato root tips in a culture solution in flasks. The root tips grow aseptically under controlled conditions and the quantity of virus in pure form is increased. Sub-cultures can be carried along indefinitely.
TO
Arnold and Kohn suggest the existence of a chlorophyll unit in photosynthesis since, according to their measurements, the minimum number of chlorophyll molecules for each molecule of carbon dioxide which is reduced is about 2000 to 3000.
OF FERTILIZER B R I Q U E T S TO A V O I D E X C E S S I V E LEACHING O F POTASSIUM COMPOUNDS
SUPPLY
HULLS
Horner, Burk, and Hoover showed that humate iron is an excellent source of iron for the nutrition of plants, making the iron available to the plant even in physiologically alkaline solutions and from which it is not precipitated by phosphate. They showed how to prepare humates of other heavy metals, such as aluminum, manganese, zinc, nickel, and copper, small amounts of the humate preparation being sufficient for the entire plant growth period.
Heretofore, emphasis has been placed on asparagine as the important intermediate product in the nitrogen metabolism of plants. Vickery, Pucher, and Clark show, however, that with the tomato plant it is not asparagine but glutamine, this amide accumulating in the stems of plants growing in a solution in which ammonia is the nitrogen source (but not with nitrate as a source). Furthermore, Greenhill and Chibnall find a similar situation with perennial rye grass, the glutamine in this case accumulating in the leaves to such a n extent that an exudate is formed which evaporates to give a white incrustation of glutamine. USE
WALNUT
H U M A T E IRON AS SOURCE OF I R O N FOR PLANT NUTRITION
THOMPSON, Miller, Knott, and Chroboczek showed that with such plants as celery, cabbage, beets, etc., which are supposed t o require two years for the formation of seed (i. e., which grow vegetatively the first year and form flower stalks the second), this biennial habit is not a fixed inherited character, b u t is merely a response to external conditions of which temperature is the most important. B y a properly timed exposure to low temperature (about 40° to 50° F.) they could induce prompt seeding (in the case of cabbage without the formation of a head) and, conversely, b y the use of higher temperatures could keep the plants continuously vegetative (in the case of beets maintaining the flowerless condition for 3.5 years). INTERMEDIATE
OF E N G L I S H
When English walnuts are cured after picking, especially if picked at a stage sufficiently early to obtain the most favorable quality, a certain percentage of the hulls adheres tightly to the nut, and even when the hull is removed mechanically the nut remains discolored. D . G. Sorber found that these "sticktight" hulls could be loosened by a treatment of about 36 t o 84 hours with ethylene, using a concentration of about 1:1000 by volume. In hulling by machine or by hand the hull disintegrates t o a powder, leaving a brightly colored nut.
of INDUSTRIAL AND ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY.
A I R P L A N E S FOR APPLYING INSECTICIDES
With the rise in the price of cotton, the use of airplanes for dusting this crop has increased considerably during the past year. Calcium arsenate dust is used here for controlling the cotton bollweevil. In western United States, particularly California, considerable areas of prune, apricot, and peach trees, as well as grape vines and other crops, have been treated with petroleum oil insecticides distributed b y means of atomization of the undiluted oil from low-flying airplanes. Nicotine, pyrethrum, and oil-soluble fungicides may be used with the oil to control scale insects, twig borers, leafhoppers, aphids, and certain plant diseases. One plane can treat as many as 440 acres a day. D E R R I S , PYRETHRUM, AND NICOTINE INSECTICIDES
Rotenone is a very toxic insecticidal constituent of derris and related plants, but the other extractives also have considerable toxicity. Effectiveness of these plant products is correlated with
447
NEWS
448
the methoxy content more than with a n y other single constituent. Kerosene extracts of derris are being used more and more in household fly sprays, providing a slow but distinct killing action extending and increasing over a period of 4S t o 72 hours. Derris will give a larger amount of effective kerosene extract than pyrethrum. Pyrethrum extracts provide great paralyzing and some killing action; derris extracts, great killing action. Large quantities of derris and pyrethrum products have been used this past season for the control of truck crop pests, such as the cabbage worm on cabbage and cauliflower, replacing arsenical insecticides. Derris has also shown promise for controlling the squash-vine borer moth, as well as the cherry fruit fly. Pyrethrum is apparently a specific poison for the celery leaf tier worms. The fixed nicotine compounds, such as nicotine tannate and nicotine bentonite, continue to receive attention a s possible arsenical substitutes. Tobacco extracts containing the other extractible substances of tobacco, as well as nicotine, were no more effective than nicotine alone. LARGE-SCALE MOSQUITO CONTROL
By means of the Civil Works Administration and other funds nearly 2000 miles of drainage ditches were dug in mosquitoinfested marshes, demonstrating the practicability of this method of mosquito control on a large sale. Similar methods appear to be effective for controlling the salt marsh sand flies in Georgia. GRASSHOPPER AND C H I N C H BUG CONTROL
Through special appropriations by Congress, a total of 7S,000 tons of poison bran bait (composed of an arsenical such as arsenic trioxide, bran, molasses, and water) were distributed through heavily infested grasshopper areas this past season, demonstrating that practical control o f the grasshopper could be obtained in this way. A newly developed bait in which oil is used in place of water has shown promise, b u t it appears that the oil must be refined until it is relatively free of sulfur compounds, which, if present, react to give a m u c h less effective bait. The oil-bran bait is much easier to transport and distribute, can be stored without deterioration, is less wasteful, and can be scattered during a longer period of the d a y . The use of creosote barriers for the control of the chinch bug, even in the heavily infested areas of the past year, was demonstrated to be generally effective in large-scale work for the protection of young corn. Over 6,000,000 gallons of creosote were used in this way. INORGANIC ASTD ORGANIC SUT-FUR INSECTICIDES
Very fine sulfur dust has again b e e n found effective for controlling the cotton fleahopper and the citrus thrips. Sulfur dust appears to be specific for controlling the broad mite—a tarsonemid mite which does severe damage t o many greenhouse crops. Sulfur, in combination with pyrethrum, has given excellent control of the potato leafhopper, the sulfur exerting an effective residual and maintaining a toxic condition for a week or 10 days after the application. Sulfur also seems t o play an important part in the molecule of the synthetic organic insecticides and the use of organic thiocyanates appears t o be increasing. In tests on mosquito larvae, thiodiphenylamine was found to be toxic at 1 part per million, and 7-thiocyanopropyl phenyl ether to be quite toxic to aphids, red spiders, and mealy bugs when used as 0.1 per cent concentration w i t h a sulfonated petroleum oil product as a wetting agent. PLANT D I S E A S E TRANSMISSION B Y INSECTS
The indications are that a species of "bark beetle," Scolytus multistriatus, and perhaps other related species are responsible for the transfer of the Dutch elm disease to undiseased elm trees. This disease, which is present in N e w Jersey and other Northeastern States, was evidently brought into this country several years ago by the importation of elm l o g for use as furniture veneer. The main effort now being made is to locate and destroy the diseased trees. A certain species of flea beetle has been definitely shown to be the carrier of Stewart's disease of corn. T h e adult flea beetles carry this disease in their digestive tracts during the winter and are responsible for its transmission t o corn t h e next season.
EDITION
Vol. 12, No. 24
Advances in t h e Field of Physics HENRY A. BARTON, American Institute of Physics, 11 East 38th St., New York, N. Y. TRANSMUTATION OF ATOMIC NUCLEI
T H E OUTSTANDING DISCOVERY is that of "induced radioactivity" by the Joliots. I t has been followed by related work by Fermi and others. As a result, it is known that most of the chemical elements can be converted into radioactive elements by nuclear transitions caused by bombardment b y either neutrons, alpha particles, or protons. The radioactive elements produced are sometimes isotopic with, sometimes adjacent to, those bombarded. In the latter case, chemical separations have been effected. The average lifetime of the activity varies from a few seconds to a few days. Positive bombarding particles are effective only on elements of low atomic number. Neutrons affect elements up to and including uranium. The radioactive products in the first case usually emit positrons; in the second case, negative electrons. ISOTOPES
New isotopes apparently created by transmutation but not isolated are H 3 and He 3 . Aston has effected the mass analysis of nearly all the rare earths, and all of the common elements, except palladium, iridium, platinum, and gold, have already been analyzed, leading to about 250 known kinds of stable atoms. The use of deuterium as a tool for research has expanded enormously, both in the field of physical chemistry and in that of nuclear transitions. COSMIC R A Y S
Wilson-chamber photographs of cosmic-ray phenomena show the paths of charged particles of both signs, most of them apparently electrons; some emanate in clusters from pieces of metal placed in or near the chamber, and may result from nuclear explosions caused by high-energy photons impinging on the metal. Experiments of other types—measurements of the total ionization caused by cosmic rays in the atmosphere a t various altitudes and latitudes, and measurements with paired or grouped counters of the numbers of charged particles flying in various more-orless sharply marked directions—indicate a strong proportion of charged particles coming from outer space and suffering deflection by the earth's magnetic field. SOLID STATE
Understanding of the solid state has progressed markedly through novel experiments and the application of quantum theory to explain the common physical properties of solid matter. Such properties as metallic conductivity depend on the properties of atoms and their positions with respect to their neighbors in the crystal. Other characteristics of crystals depend o n the arrangement of the atoms in units containing thousands or millions of atoms. Attention has been recently directed to properties dependent on imperfections and irregularities in the lattice structure. A mechanism of the rupture of solids has been developed. In ferromagnetic materials direct evidence of magnetic domains has been obtained by a new technic for determining microscopic surface fields. This study has led t o the production of new magnetic alloys. The study of semi-conductors has been advanced through experiments on conductivity changes caused by dissolved electro-negative elements. X-RAYS
From studies of the shapes and widths of x-ray emission lines and absorption limits, information is being gathered concerning atomic energy levels. Spectra measurements have been extended to extremely short waves (about 30 X units). Other measurements toward the ultraviolet have yielded added evidence concerning the conduction electrons in metals. New strong, highvoltage x-ray sources have been developed. LIGHT
VARIETAL RESISTANCE OP P L A N T S TO INSECT ATTACK
During the past few years it has been demonstrated that some varieties of economic plants are more resistant to insect attack than others. Certain varieties of t h e onion, such as the Sweet Spanish, are quite resistant to the attack of the onion thrips, some varieties of corn are not attractive to the chinch bug; whereas some alfalfa varieties are resistant to the attack of the pea aphid.
In optics improved sources have been devised for ultraviolet spectroscopy. The absorption of both visible and ultraviolet light in water (including sea water) has been extensively studied. Some little attention has been given to certain photographic effects. The optics of photoelectric cells and of crystals have been the subject of several important papers. There have been significant developments in densitometry and in reflectometry.
LIGHT T R A P S FOR CONTROLLING INSECTS
ELECTRON OPTICS
It has been found that large numbers of tobacco beetles—severe pests of stored tobacco—can be attracted t o , and killed by, light traps placed in tobacco warehouses. This method of control is rapidly being adopted by tobacco warehousemen.
This new branch of physics came from the discovery that electrons can be "refracted" by axially symmetric electric or magnetic fields. Recent effects have been t o simulate "lens" systems for cathode-ray tubes and electronic microscopes.
December 20, 1934
I N D U S T R I A L
A N D
E N G I N E E R I N G
ACOUSTICS
Quantum mechanics has entered the field of acoustics to explain anomalous absorption coefficients (10 or 20 times normal) for sound of certain frequencies passing through mixed atmospheres. Experiments with sound of very high intensity have yielded quantitative results on: (1) the distortion of sound transmission at high intensities; and (2) the surprising change of pitch observed, even with constant frequency sounds, as intensity is changed. RHEOLOGY
In rheology, the science of plastic flow, the year 1934 has seen progress in the establishment of standards, definitions, and correlation of methods of measurement. Hardness tests, softening points, penetration tests, ring and ball tests, so-called viscosity measurements of plastic materials, and other empirical measurements of plasticity now in use are all measures of the same property of flow. Current effort in the science is to express them in absolute units. The Bureau of Standards is working on the better determination of the viscosity of water as an absolute standard. COPYRIGHT 1934 BY SCIENCE SERVICE PHOTONS OF LIGHT
Using instruments counting individual photons of light, Myer, Schein, and Stoll, Swiss scientists, have been able to detect a new band of invisible light in the ultraviolet in the margin from 2400 to 1900 A. PROTONS
A new source of protons for atomic bombardments and consisting of an electric arc operating in hydrogen at low pressure between an incandescent filament and a metal electrode was devised b y Lamar and Luhr, Massachusetts Institute of Technology. X-RAYS
X-ray studies of the structure of wood fibers revealed that even soft tone accompanies the non-orientation of wood fibers in the maple back of a violin. This work was done at Purdue University by Lark-Horovitz and Caldwell. HEAT-ABSORBING G L A S S
Heat-absorbing glass which removes 52 per cent of the infrared was reported by Roger S. Estey, physicist of t h e Electric Testing Laboratories. VELOCITY OF SOUND
A precise value for the velocity of sound, 1087.r3 feet per second, was announced by Dayton C. Miller. CLASSIFICATION C H A N G E S I N CHEMICAL ABSTRACTS A F E W SMALL CHANGES in the classification of abstracts in
Chemical Abstracts are t o be made, starting with the 1935 volume. These can perhaps best be indicated by noting the changes in titles of sections: 1. Apparatus and Plant Equipment changed to Apparatus, Plant Equipment, and Unit Operations. 13. General Industrial Chemistry, to Chemical Industry and Miscellaneous Industrial Products (Plastics, Resinoids, Insulators, Adhesives, etc.). 18. Acids, Alkalies, Salts, and Sundries, to Acids, Alkalies, Salts, and Other Heavy Chemicals 26. Paints, Varnishes, and Resins to Paints, Varnishes, and Natural Resins. The inclusion of abstracts dealing with unit operations in Section 1 has seemed desirable because of the intimate relation between such operations and the equipment needed in carrying them out. The rapidly growing importance of artificial or synthetic products made by chemists to serve as substitutes for, or improvements on, natural products and variously known as plastic materials, resinous products, and the like has called for a better grouping of these materials. A place for them has been made in Section 13. The classification of abstracts in Chemical Abstracts is basically a chemical one. That very few changes have seemed desirable in the classification scheme since it was worked out 28 years ago by W. A. Noyes speaks well for his judgment and for the effectiveness of this subdivision of Chemical Abstracts. In making the occasional alterations which have followed changes in the direction and development of the interests of chemists, care has been taken not to do violence to existing natural groupings. It is believed that the present changes are consistent with this conservative practice.
C H F M I S T R Y
:49
News of the Society Minutes of Directors' Meeting T H E DIRECTORS of the AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY met
at
The Chemists' Club, New York, N . Y., at 9:30 A. M., December 8, 1934, with Thomas Midgley, Jr., in the chair and the following Directors present: Roger Adams, Robert T. Baldwin, Edward Bartow, Erle M. Billings, G. J. Esselen, James F. Norris, Charles L. Parsons, Charles L. Reese, E. Emmet Reid, M. C. Whitaker, F. C. Whitmore, and H. H. Willard. A communication was received from Eli Lilly and Company offering an annual award of $1250 per year to run for five years; §1000 to go to the recipient, $100 to be used for the purchase of a bronze medal for the recipient, and $150, or as much thereof as may be necessary, for traveling expenses. The award is t o be given for research in biological chemistry (excepting therefrom immunology, clinical investigation, pharmacology, and experimental therapeutics), the conditions to be quite similar to those ,n connection with the American Chemical Society Award in Pure Chemistry, initiated by A. C. Langmuir. The full detail of the award and the rules governing same will be found on page 425 of the N E W S EDITION for December 10, 1934.
The Directors
voted to accept the award and to administer it; and the Treasurer was instructed to receive the necessary funds from Eli Lilly and Company and pay them out as required for the purposes enumerated. The Directors received through President-Elect Roger Adams a proposal that any person who has been a member of the AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY for thirty-five years and who has retired from active practice in chemistry or teaching, may, at his request, be made a retired or an emeritus member. Such member should be exempted from further payment of dues; should have all the rights and privileges of ordinary members; but should not be counted in determining rebates paid to local sections. The matter was referred for report to Directors Roger Adams, Erle M. Billings, and Charles L. Parsons. It was voted to allow Harrison E. Howe, Editor of the Analytical Edition of INDUSTRIAL AND ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY, t o ap-
point tentatively a board of six associate editors to assist in devising policies and plans and to act as special referees in deciding the propriety of publishing certain chemical articles, the appointees to be confirmed or otherwise by the Council at the spring meeting of the SOCIETY.
The President and the Secretary are authorized and instructed to file the following release with the trustees of the will of John E. Teeple: We, the undersigned, beneficiaries under the trusts created in and by t h e Last Will and Testament of John E. Teeple, late of the Town of Montclair, in the County of Essex and State of New Jersey, which Will was dated November 22. 1930, and h a s been duly probated in the Office of the Surrogate of Essex County, New Jersey, do hereby consent to and request you as Trustees to retain in said trust estate the securities which came to you from the executrix of said Will to constitute said trust estate, although said securities are not legal securities for trustees to hold under the laws of New York or New Jersey, until such time as the securities can be disposed of to t h e best advantage in your judgment of said trust estate. We further ratify your acts in having retained the said securities up to this date and release and discharge you from any loss which may be suffered by said trust estate or the beneficiaries thereunder by reason of the retention of said securities as above requested and directed b y us. The Directors voted, in view of the expense and losses incident thereto in 1933, not to accept payment of dues and subscriptions on the instalment plan in 1935. It was unanimously voted t o reconsider the vote passed on September 9, 1934, reading: T h a t the President and Secretary be and are hereby empowered and authorized, subject to the advice and consent of counsel, to cause a certain contract dated August 21, 1933. by and between The Chemical Catalog Co., Inc., party of the first part, and AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY, party of the second part, to be amended so as to provide t h a t said party of the first part shall be The Reinhold Publishing Corp. The Directors then unanimously voted to allow the transfer of the above-named contract, dated August 21, 1933, between the AMERICAN CHEMICAL. SOCIETY and The Chemical
Catalog
Co., Inc., to the Reinhold Publishing Corp. and authorized the President and the Secretary to make this transfer, counsel to draw the necessary papers. It was voted hereafter to print the list of officers of local sections, divisions, etc., in the N E W S EDITION three times a year— on February 10, May 10, and October 10. It was unanimously voted to transfer a n y unexpended balances
