other end. In the reducer is inserted a rubber hose connector. 'I'he condenser consists of a piece of S-mm. glass tubing, hent a t a right angle. The glass tubing should fit tightly against the metal hose connector, so
Iron p i p e
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6"
that no rubber is exposed to the decomposition products. Some of the advantages of this apparatus are: 1. It is inexpensive, and can be reused many times. In the "test tube type" apparatus, the hard glass test tube is always spoiled for any other use, and i t is almost as expensive as the first cost of the new type. 2. Can be easily taken apart, for loading, unloading, or cleaning. 3. Will withstand the temperature necessary for the decomposition of wood or coal. 1. Most important of all, it produces satisfactory results.
Dyes Test Seed Grain. Dead or alive? That is the gurstion thoussnds of agricultural laboratories in all parts of the world have to answer wbcn tcsting seeds and grains. If the seed is dead, i t will not germinate whcn sown. A ncw test devised by a Russian botanist, Dr. D. N. Nelubov, of Leningrad, will answer this important question in a few hours, instead of several days required by the ordinary methods. Aniline dyes are used by Dr. Nelubov to tell apart seeds that are dead and alive. T h e seeds are steeped in a weak dye solution for three to four hours. Those ablc to germinate are not affected a t all by the treatment, while the "dead" ones give themselves away by. getting deeply colored. If seeds have hard husks they must he first broken, to enable the dye t o penetrate to the embryo. Not all aniline dyes are suitable for this work. Dr. Nelubov finds that the best results are obtained with indigo-carmine. About one~fifthof an ouncc of the dye is required per one gallon of water.-Science Service Tree Seeds Sprout Best in Acid Water. Acid soil has long been decried as bad farm land for so many years that i t has come to be considered by current thought as no good for anything. I t may, however, be as good for growing crops of wood as it is bad for growing craps of grain, according to results of experiments recently performed by Henry I. Baldwin of Berlin, N. H. Mr. Baldwin sprouted red spruce seeds in water of varying acidity and alkalinity. He found that slightly acid water was better than any of the alkaline waters. He got the best results in pure distilled water, which is perfectly neutral; but of course distilled water is never found under natural cconditions.-Science Service ~
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