66 



used, ill that from its use there resulted an enormous 

 increase in the numher of bacteria present and a very 

 great increase in the ammonia and nitrate content of 

 the soil. The increased amounts of ammonia and 

 nitrate were roughly proportional to the increased 

 applications of pyridine, up to 7.9 gnis. of pyridine 

 per kilo, of soil. 



Chemicals Used. 



The dihydroxystearicacid used in the work was made 

 by Kahlbaum; the salicylic aldehyde was a synthetic 

 product obtained from Eimer & Amend. All others 

 were Merck's products. 



According to results obtained in solution cultures, 

 pyridine, quinoline, piperidine, guanidine carbonate, 

 naphthylamine, and alloxan are toxic to wheat seed- 

 lings. Nucleic acid and asparagine are beneficial 

 under the same conditions. 



A brief description of the chemicals used, as taken 

 from Bernthsen (1), Holleman (6), and Jones (7), 

 follows : 



Alloxan, CO — NH is a decomposition product of 



I I 



CO CO 



II 



CO' NJJ 

 uric acid. It is readily soluble in w^ater, and is of a 

 strong basic nature. 



Asparagine, CO.H. CH (NHO-CH.. CO. NH., is an 

 acid amide which is widely distributed in the vege- 

 table kingdom. 



Guanidine is a colorless, crystalline compound with 

 strong basic properties. The carbonate, (CN3Hr.)2,H2COs 

 crystallizes in quadratic prisms. The base is readily 

 hydrolysed, first to urea and ammonia, and finally to 

 ammonia and CO^. 



Najihthylamine, CiHt .NH^ is a solid, basic com- 

 ])oiind, with an offensive odor. 



Pvridine, CH is regarded as benzene with one CH 



A 



HC CH 

 I I 



HC cn 

 \/ 



