abstracts: agricultural chemistry 255 



AGRICULTURAL CHEMISTRY.— ^^eci of asparagin on absorption 

 and growth in wheat. J. J. Skinner and J. H. Beattie. Bulletin 

 Torrey Botanical Club, 39: 429. 1912. 

 Wheat seedlings were grown in nutrient solutions of phosphate, pot- 

 ash, and nitrate in varying proportions and to these were added 50 p.p.m. 

 of asparagin. Asparagine had a beneficial effect on plant growth. 

 When large amounts of nitrate were present in the culture solutions 

 asparagin produced no appreciable effect on growth. The plants ab- 

 sorbed less nitrate from the culture solution while the phosphate and 

 potash absorption was normal. While the effect of the asparagin on 

 plant growth decreased with increasing nitrate, it had nevertheless a 

 conserving effect upon the amount of nitrate left in the solution. It 

 appears therefore that the plant can utilize this nitrogenous compound 

 for plant synthesis. J. J. S. 



AGRICULTURAL CWEMISTRY— Manganese as a fertilizer. M. X. 



Sullivan and W. O. Robinson. Circular of the Bureau of Soils, 



No. 75. 1912. 

 In this circular it is pointed out that fertilizing with manganese has 

 led to varying results. The general conclusion is drawn that in view 

 of the complexity of the soil and the discrepancy that has been found in 

 the use of manganese fertilizers, manganese cannot be recommended 

 in any way other than in experimentation and as a fertilizer comple- 

 mentary to the usual chemical fertilizers, nitrate, phosphoric acid, potash 

 and lime. M. X. S. 



AGRICULTURAL CHEMISTRY.- ,S^i/rfzes in soil catalysis. M. X. 

 Sullivan and F. R. Reid. Bulletin of the Bureau of Soils, No. 

 86. 1912. • . 



Soils possess the power to decompose hydrogen peroxide. This power 

 is greater in soil than in subsoils, m strong vital soils than in weak soils. 

 It persists for years in air-dried soils. 



Tho good production is not dependent on the catalytic power, 

 the presence of a strong catalytic power in a soil can be taken as a 

 priori evidence that the many factors making for soil fertility would 

 be prominent and that the soil would be a productive soil. The cataly - 

 tic power is checked to some degree by carbon bisulphide, mercuric 

 chloride and especially by hydrocyanic acid, which in some cases prac- 

 tically destroys it. Heatmg in an autoclave under pressure of 10 at- 

 mospheres retards the catalytic power, tho dry heat for one hour at 



