abstracts: chemistkv i.v, 



increases from the time of germination to the sixth or eighth day and 

 then decreases. It is most marked intracellular^ in the parenchyma 

 cells of the root tip. A faintly acid reaction stimulates the reducing 

 power. Xo reducing enzyme could be extracted from the crushe. 1 1 >lants. 



M. X. s. 



AGRICULTURAL CHEMISTRY. — Concurrent oxidation and reduction 

 by roots. Oswald Schreiner and M. X. Sullivan. Botanical 

 Gazette, 51: 273. 1911. 



The power of growing wheat roots to oxidize easily oxidizable sub- 

 stances such as aloin, and to reduce sodium selenite and tellurite may run 

 independently or concurrently. A faintly alkaline reaction favors oxida- 

 tion, a faintly acid reaction reduction. Within certain limits the two 

 processes may occur together. Reduction seems to be connected with 

 the inner metabolism of the plant and is probably brought about by 

 non-enzymotic compounds analogous to the organic hydroxyacids and 

 their salts, which have a slight reducing action, or to compounds unsat- 

 urated in respect to oxygen. Oxidation is due to bodies capable of fixing 

 atmospheric oxygen in an active form, perhaps as peroxides, which is 

 secondarily transferred to others. Reduction processes are predomi- 

 nant in the early stages of the seedlings' growth but are less manifest 

 as these develop and oxidation becomes predominant. Oxidation is the 

 prominent property of the plant root. M. X. S. 



AGRICULTURAL CHEMISTRY.— Oxidation in soils. M. X. Sul- 

 livan and F. R. Reid. Journal of Industrial and Engineering 

 Chemistry, 3 : 25-30. 1911. 



It has been found that soils have an oxidizing power, which varies 

 with different soils. In general those of better producing powers have 

 the better oxidation power. 



In studying oxidation processes by the use of easily oxidizable sub- 

 stances like aloin, pyrogallol, hydroquinone, h-phenylenediamine, ben- 

 zidine, guaiac and a-naphtbylamine, the authors found aloin to be the 

 best reagent. 



Reducing agents such as hydroxylamine HC1, oxalic acid, sodium 

 thiosulphate and formalin completely check oxidation while such 

 antienzymotic substances as mercuric chloride, silver nitrate, and 

 carbon bisulphide have little if any retarding action. 



