L56 abstracts: chemistry 



All soil samples tested with the exception of Orangeburg loam have 

 their oxidative powers considerably checked by a temperature of 105° 

 C. dry heat and by steam sterilization in an Arnold sterilizer. The 

 oxidative powers on all soils are completely destroyed by incineration. 

 The mineral acids have very little effect in restoring this function while 

 the organic hydroxyacids, especially citric acid, are very effective in this 

 regard. 



The hydroxyacids tend to increase the oxidative poAver on normal 

 soils, while the related non-hydroxy acids have little effect. 



Manganese dioxide increases the oxidative power somewhat. The 

 salts of manganese, iron, aluminum, calcium, and magnesium have little 

 effect alone, but in the presence of simple hydroxyacids they increase 

 the oxidative function considerably. 



The subsoils of soils having marked oxidative powers seldom have 

 the same property. The effect of cropping and of fertilizers is variable. 

 Oxidation in soils is comparable to that in plants and animals, and is 

 due mainly to non-enzymotic forces, inorganic and organic, working 

 separately, conjointly, or in reinforcing or activating combination. 



M. X. S. and F. R. R. 



AGRICULTURAL CHEMISTRY.— Paraffin hydrocarbons in soils. 

 Oswald Schreiner and Edmund C. Shorey. Journal of the 

 American Chemical Society, 33: 81. 1911. 



A paraffin hydrocarbon from a peat soil was isolated and identified 

 as hentriacontane C 3 iH 6 4. Since this compound has been found in a 

 number of plants and nothing is known regarding the possibility of its 

 formation from other organic matter in soil the conclusion is reached 

 that it may be an unchanged plant residue. E. C. S. 



AGRICULTURAL CHEMISTRY.— Glycerides of fatty acids in soils. 

 Oswald Schreiner and Edmund C. Shorey. Journal of the 

 American Chemical Society, 33: 78. 1911. 



There was isolated from a sample of soil (Elkton silt loam) a glyceride 

 liquid at room temperature. This gave on saponification oleic acid and 

 some unidentified solid fatty acids. The conclusion is that the gly- 

 ceride is a plant residue that has resisted decomposition in the soil. 



E. C. S. 



