AGRICULTURAL CHEMISTRY AGROTECHNY. 115 



Modification of the phenylhydrazin reaction, J. Boeseken (Cheni. WeeJcU., 

 7 (1910), Ko. 43, p. 934; ahs. in Jour. Chcm. Soc. [London], 98 {1910), No. 

 57S, II, p. 1118). — The author substitutes for phenylliydrazin a solution of the 

 base in sulphurous acid, which will dissolve up to 10 per cent. The solution is 

 prepared by passing washed sulphurous-acid gas through a mixture of phenyl- 

 hydrazin and a sufficient quantity of water until all is dissolved. At the out- 

 set a crystalline precipitate separates, but this on further passage of the gas 

 is dissolved. The solution contains conlpounds of the formulas C6HDN2H3, SO3 

 and (C6H5N2H3)2, SO2. 



" The reagent reacts at once with soluble aldehydes and ketones, and, on 

 warming, with insoluble carbonyl compounds, the hydrazones being obtained in 

 the pure state. Its efficacy has been tested with formaldehyde, acetaldehyde. 

 acetone, benzaldehyde, m-nitrobenzaldehyde, acetophenone, cumiualdehyde, fur- 

 furaldehyde, p-chloroacetophenon, levulic acid, acetylacetone, acetonylacetone, 

 and ethyl acetoacetate. When warmed with monoses at 80°, the reagent yields 

 pure osazones. It has been tested with dextrose, levulose, (^galactose, ^-man- 

 nose, ?-xylose, and rhamnose." 



A rapid volumetric method of sugar estimation, W. F. Sutheest (Jour. 

 Indus, and Engin. Chem., 3 (1911), No. 4, p. 256). — The author, finding that a 

 large amount of time is consumed in determining the end point ol reduction 

 with Fehling's method, modified the procedure as follows : 



" Fifty cc. of normal Fehling sohition was heated to boiling in a porcelain 

 casserole, and the trial sugar solution run in from a small burette or graduated 

 pipette, till a faint blue color is apparent at the edge of the vessel. From this 

 to the finish as further sugar is run in, a drop of the mixture is placed on the 

 top side of a filter folded in half; the filtrate passes through, free from copper 

 oxid, to the under side and the spot moistened with a drop of a solution con- 

 taining 10 gm. glacial acetic acid, 1 gm. potassium ferrocyanid in 100 cc. water. 

 On holding up to the light the faintest trace of copper ferrocyanid can be 

 perceived, and the end of the reaction plainly indicated at the first trial." 



The quantitative determination of starch sirup according to Juckenack 

 and Pasternack's method, L. GRiJNHUT (Ztschr. Analyt. Chem., 49 (1910), No, 

 12, pp. 745-758; ahs. in Chem. Ztg., 34 (1910), No. 152, Repert., p. 630).— With 

 the Juckenack and Pasternack method starch sirup can be determined with 

 certainty in most fruit juices and other fruit products, where the quantity is 

 over 2 per cent. For a few of these products, however, the limit is 5 per cent. 

 Only the examination of plum jam is uncertain. 



See also a note by Beythien and Simmich (E. S. R., 24, p. 308). 



The chemistry of raw sugar production, C. A. Beowne (Reprint from 

 School Mines Quart., 32 (1911), No. 3, pp. 217-234). — ^A detailed discussion in 

 regard to the part played by chemistry in the raw sugar industry. 



Relation between the potash and sugar content of sugar cane, H. C. Pkin- 

 SEN Geerligs (Meded. Proefstat. Java-Suikerindus., 1910, No. 84, PP- 309-318; 

 abs. in Jour. Soc. Chem. Indus., 30 {1911), No. 1, pp. 41, 4^)- — ^An attempt was 

 made to determine whether a relationship existed between the sucrose, Brix, 

 purity, and potash values of a number of Javan juices. It was shown, how- 

 ever, that although it appears that a high potash content almost always points 

 to a low sucrose content and a low purity figure, many instances occur in 

 which there is no such relation. It is concluded that other important factors 

 are present which exert more influence than potash. 



The occurrence of raflinose in raw sugars and its determination, F. Stroh- 

 MER (Ztschr. Ver. Deut. Zuckerindus., n. ser., 47 (1910), No. 2, II, pp. 911-931; 

 ahs. in Ztschr. Angew. Chem., 24 (1911), No. 16, p. 762). — ^While raflBuose is not 



