AGRICULTURAL CHEMISTRY. Soils, Waters, Foods, Tanning [laterials, etc. BY E. W. HILGARD, ET. AL. Cal. Agr. Expt. S a . Rep., 1898-1901, Part 11, pp. 149-262.--Numerous analyses of soils, alkali, waters, sugar-beets, figs, oranges, hops, canaigre roots, wattle barks, etc., are reported, and a number of subjects, including the formation of hardpan, reclamation of alkali lands, maturing of navel oranges, etc., are discussed. In a laboratory study of the percolation of water through soil by A. V. Stubenrauch, it was found that the rate of percolation was not' materially influenced by the diameter of the cylinders used, but that it was retarded by drying the soil at 100' C., repeated wetting and drying and tamping the surface. T h e use of cylinders I . j inches in diameter and 40 inches long is recommended. The rates of flow through black adobe, loam, and sandy soil were compared, the sandy soil showing the slowest rate. A study of some California butters made for export by M. E. Jaffa led to the tentative conclusion that the feeding of sugar-beet pulp in large quantities to cows has a tendency to produce soft butter. T h e butter-fat from cows fed a daily ration containing 60 pounds of beet-pulp silage showed 6.39per cent. of butyrin, 37.93 per cent. of olein, 55.68 per cent. of palmitin, stearin, etc., and had a melting-point of 32.7' C. and a refractive index at 25' C. of 1.4598. Analyses of California grown Smyrna figs by G. E. Colby showed the following composition for dried packed samples : Water 21.06,ash 1.72, proteids 4.37,crude fiber 8.02,fat 0.91,and sugar 63.92per cent. T h e California grown fruit contained 1.4 per cent. more sugar and 0.3 per cent. more proteids than imported figs. The same author makes a preliminary report on a systematic study of the composition of navel oranges during the process of ripening. T h e average tannin content of 25 samples of canaigre roots was 30.6 per cent. T h e tannin in the barks of the black, silver, and golden wattle varied from 33.I to 54.4 per cent. H. W. LAWSON. Errors in Manure Sampling and Analysis. BY W. FREAR. Proc. Sot. Prom. Agr. Sn'.,1902,pp. 183-194.-1n the examination of two lots of barnyard manure, a comparative study was made of the limits of error in sampling and analysis, from the results of which the author concludes that a large mass of manure can be represented satisfactorily only by original samples of relatively large amount, and that the latter must be thoroughly subdivided under conditions as unfavorable to heating and evaporation as possible. Check weighings should be made at every subdivision and, when the material is sufficiently mixed, triplicate samples should be taken for separate determinations of moisture. Greater accuracy will be secured by the rapid weighing of large quantities on scales of low sensitiveness than by the weighing of
238
Rcazew of .41nerica11 Ckcnzical Reseairk.
sniall quantities on more sensitive scales, owing to the rapid drying of the sample under the latter conditions. H. 15.’. LAWSON.
Studies in Nitrification. €31. G . S . FRAPS.A m . Chent. J . , 29, 2 2 j-2.~1.-This article was presented at the last convention of the Association of Official Agricultural Chemists and noted briefly in this Journal, R . , 24, 538. The Source of Nitrogen in Forest Soil. BY R. G. ZON. pop. Sci. M o o . ,62, 436-44o.-This subject is briefly discussed, particular attention being called to the observations of E. Henry, of France, that fallen leaves absorb atmospheric nitrogen during the beginning of the process of decomposition. H. W. LAWSON. Preliminary Crop and Soil Data for the Cooperative Study of Available Plant Food. BY C.C . MOORE. L;. S.Dcpt. Agr., Bureau of Ckcnz. Circ. No. II. 9 pp.-In the cooperative investigations in progress by the bureau and twenty or more experiment stations, oats, barley, rye, and wheat have been grown in plat and pot experiments. This circular contains some of the data so far obtained, including descriptions of the soils, the yield and composition of the crops, and determinations of the nitrogen, phosphoric acid, potash, lime, and magnesia removed from the soil by each crop. H. L,A%”SON. Third Report on Food Products, 1902. BY €3. W, KILGORE, ET AL. N. c. state B d , Agr. 8zd.,January, 1903. 77 pp.-Of the 409 samples of human foods examined in 1 9 0 2 and here reported upon, 87 samples were found adulterated. T h e percentage of adulteration in 1900 was j 6 , in 1901, 35.7,and in 1902, 2 1 . 3 During the three years I ,404 samples were examined. Analyses are also reported of feeding-stuffs and condimental stock foods. H. It’. L A ~ - s o s . Food Products and Their Adulteration. BY E. E‘. LADD,ET. AI.. N. Dak. Agr. Expt. S f a . Bull. KO. 5 3 , pp. I 15-150.T h e use of preservatives and coal-tar dyes in foods is discussed, and the results of analyses of numerous samples of jellies, jams, catsup, canned vegetables, extracts, spices, etc., are reported. Food adulteration was found very extensively practiced in the H . W.LAWSOS. state. A Study of the Food Value of Some of the Edible Fungi of Ames. B Y J B. WEEMS ASD ALICE W. HESS. Proc. SOC. Pram. Agr. Sci., 1302, pp. 16j-172 -Analyses are reported of the following species of edible fungi collected in the yicinity of Anies, Iowa : Cojrinus atrementarius, C. micaceous, Hiriieola auricula, H y d n u m coralloides, ikforchella esculen f a , Lycoperdon gigantum, L. geminaturn, Pleurotes sapidus, P. idmarizis, and
Agricultural Chemistry.
239
Agaricus campesfris. Compiled analyses are also given.
While not classed as a food, mushrooms are ranked high as a relish. H. W. LAWSON.
The Percentage of Water in Canadian Creamery Butter. BY F. T. SHUTT. Ont.Dept. Agr., Dairy Division Bull. No.4, n. ser., 1902. 6 pp. -Determinations of the moisture content of 75 samples of butter received from creameries in different parts of Canada showed a maximum of 16.77, a minimum of 8.92, and an average of 12.16 per cent. The water content of 30 samples obtained at Montreal from packages ready for export was as follows: Maximum 15.37, minimum 7.94, average 12.69 per cent. The average water content of the 105 samples was 12.31 per cent. Only I sample contained more than 16 per cent. of water, the limit allowed by the English law. With one or two exceptions the butter was made in July and August and was considered representative of the creamery product as prepared for export to England. The method of determining moisture is given.
H. W. LAWSON. Poisoning of Cattle by Common Sorghum and Kafir Corn. BY A. T. PETERS,H. B. SLADE A N D S. AVERY. Nebr. Agr. Expt. Sta. Bull. No. 77. 16 pp.-This contains notes on the symptoms and post-mortem findings in cases of poisoning, chemcal investigations reported upon at greater length in this Journal, 25, 5 5 , and suggestions as to treatment. The cause of poisoning has been traced to prussic acid which is set free from a glucoside by an enzyme in the plant, and which may be obtained artificially by distillation with water. H.W. LAWSON. nethods of Corn Breeding. BY C. G. HOPKINS.Ill. Agr. 8 2 , pp. 525-53g.-The breeding of corn for the purpose of increasing or decreasing the content of protein, oil, or starch, has been under investigation at the station for a number of years, with results which have been published from time to time. The methods which have been employed are based upon the physical examination of the ears and kernels and upon chemical analysis and are described briefly in this bulletin. H. W. LAWSON.
Expt. Sta. Bull. No.
llacaroni Wheat in South Dakota. S. Dah. Agr. Expt. Sta. Bull. No. 77. 42 pp.-Results so far obtained in the culture and testing of macaroni wheat in South Dakota are presented. This wheat is reported as yielding from 2 5 to 1 0 0 per cent. more than ordinary wheat and being well adapted to all parts of the state. Brief statements are made by J. H. Shepard concerning the results of chemical investigations. Imported seed in 1900 was found to have a protein content of 14.1 per cent. The crop grown from the seed in 1901 showed 18.8 per cent. The protein
240
Revzew of Ameriraii Chemical Research.
content of the crop of 1902 was 13.9 per cent., the low percentage being attributed to unfavorable weather conditions. H . U'. LAWSON.
llacaroni Wheat. BY T. L. LYON. Nebr. Agr. E x p f . S f a . Bull. No. 78. 24 pp.-Experiments were conducted to determine the adaptability of different parts of Nebraska to a number of varieties of macaroni wheat. T h e average yield of all varieties tested in 1902 was 18.3 bushels per acre, which was better than the average yield of other varieties of spring wheat. Macaroni wheat is believed to be a useful crop for the western portion of the state. H. W.LAWSOS. Sugar Beets. BY F. LY. TRAPHAGEN. Mod. Agr. Expf. S a . Bull. X o . 41. 8 pp.-Analytical and cultural data are given for the sugar-beets growii in 1902 in cooperative experiments with farmers throughout the state. No general conclusions are drawn. H. 111. LAWSOX. Progress of the Beet Sugar Industry in the United States. BY C. F. SAYLOR. Sci. Amer. Suppl., 55, 22,6g2--22,6gq.--This is reprinted from the Yearbook of the U. S. Department of Agriculture. See this Journal, R., 24, 512, 514. H . W.LAWSON. PATENTS. 7, 1902. 710,413. Jules A. Besson, Caen, France. Process of defecating sugar. Adds ammonia to the juice, filters it and then adds a finely divided metal as porphyrized aluminum. 710,452. Mary J. R. Greenman, Wilkes-Barre, Pa. Hardening metals. Bath is made of sugar, salt, magnesia, borax, potash, arsenic, sulphur and sal ammoniac, 3 ounces each, spirits of niter and sulphuric acid 6 ounces each. and water 5 gallons. 710,493. Ludwig 7'. Moeser and Wilhelni E. Eidmann, Giessen, Germany. Assignors to Chemische Fabrik Griesheim Electron, Frankfort-on-Main, Germany. Production of metals of the alkalies. Heats a mixture of calcium carbide and alkaline fluoride to a red heat in the absence of oxygen. 710,496. Sidney T. Muffley, Bowdre, Ga. Assignor one-half to Runyon Pyatt, New York, N. U. Treating ores. Saturates gold or silver ores with potassium cyanide, agitates and breaks up the mixture in a revolving drum, injects a current of heated air with a spray of fresh solvent at one end of the cylinder and carries off the liberated elements at the opposite end. 710,521. Alfred G. Saunders, Adelaide, South Australia. Making a mineral absorbent. Ground carbonaceous clay is lixiviOCTOBER
