262 



proceedings: chemical society 



Discussion: Parsons inquired concerning the sharpness of legal defi- 

 nition necessary under the present law against absinthe. The author 

 did not have exact data to furnish on this point. 



The analysis of certain Pacific coast kelps: E. H. Parker and J. R. 

 LiNDEMUTH, of the Burcau of Soils. Read by Mr. Parker. Specimens 

 of the two most important kelps of the. Pacific coast from an economic 

 standpoint, as found by previous investigators, were collected from differ- 

 ent points along the coast and analyzed for potash, soluble salts, nitrogen 

 and iodine. The conclusions are: (1) the average KCl content is high; 

 (2) Apparently no definite relation exists between the different constitu- 

 ents of kelp; (3) The average KCl content of the Nereocystis hi.etkeana 

 is greater than that of the Macrocystis pyrifera this is true for kelp 

 from different localities. In each single case, also, the KCl content of 

 the Nereocystis is greater than the average of the Macrocystis; (4) 

 Apparently the northern kelps are richer in KCl than the southern; 

 (5) the iodine content of northern and southern kelps show no conclusive 

 differences. 



Table of Aveeaqes. 



SOURCE 



Freshwater Bay, Washington 



(Macrocystis) 



(Nereocystis) 



Coast between Los Angeles and San Francisco.. 



(Macrocystis) 



(Nereocystis) 



Coast near San Diego 



Total average 



(Macrocystis) 



(Nereocystis) 



Average of all analyses of Pacific Coast kelps 



N. 



% 

 2.14 



2.21 



1.11 

 1.93 



(Author's abstract.) 



Discussion: In reply to inquiry, the author stated that the soluble ash 

 formed about 3 per cent of the dry plant. 



The influence of environment upon the composition of wheat: J. A. 

 LeClerc and P. A. Yoder of the Laboratory of Plant Chemistry, Bureau 

 of Chemistry. Read by Dr. Yoder. The composition and physical 

 properties of wheats have been shown by the Bureau of Chemistry to be 

 dependent upon climate rather than upon heredity. The present inves- 

 tigation studied the effect of soils in comparison with climate, by inter- 

 change of blocks of soil, 5 feet square and 3 feet deep, between Mary- 

 land, Kansas, and California. The experiments have continued thru 

 four years. The size of grain as well as other physical properties seem 

 to depend chiefly upon the locality and very little on the soil. Results 



