ABSTRACTS . 



Authors of scientific papers are requested to see that abstracts, preferably 

 prepared and signed by themselves, are forwarded promptly to the editors. Each 

 of the scientific bureaus in Washington has a representative authorized to for- 

 ward such material to this journal and abstracts of official publications should 

 be transmitted through the representative of the bureau in which they originate. 

 The abstracts should conform in length and general style to those appearing in 

 this issue. 



METALLOGRAPHY. — Metallographic testing. Bureau of Standards 

 Circular No. 42, 1913 (in press). 



The circular considers metallography in its wider sense and does not 

 restrict it to the microscopical analysis alone. Thermal analysis, 

 together with the correlation of physical properties with microscopical 

 structure, thus find their place here. 



The different methods of thermal analysis are briefly reviewed and 

 compared. The importance that is attached to the metallographic 

 method in the iron and steel industry is illustrated by a partial list of 

 the more common applications in that field. 



The tests that the Bureau of Standards is equipped at present for 

 carrying out are: 



1. Thermal. Cooling and heating curves, melting points, heat treat- 

 ment of alloys as specified. 



2. Microscopical. Preparation of specimens and photomicrographs 

 of specified magnification up to 1000 diameters (higher magnification 

 by special arrangement), microscopical examination after special heat 

 treatment. 



3. Miscellaneous. Examination of metals after failure for evidence of 

 the cause of failure, determination of various physical constants of 

 metals and their temperature coefficients. H. S. Rawdon. 



BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY.— A biochemical study of the curly-top of 



sugar beet. H. H. Bunzel, U. S. Department of Agriculture, 



Bureau of Plant Industry, Bulletin 277. 1913. 



Oxidase determinations were made on healthy and diseased sugar 



beets growing under different conditions at Utah in the summer of 1911. 



The experiments were carried out on the roots, leaves, and other parts 



of the plants separately, according to the method described in Bulletin 



251 



