AGRICULTURAL CHEMISTRY AGROTECHNY. 



711 



per cent of methyl pentosans, and the sirup after treatment with alcohol 0.04 

 per cent of iientosans and 0.19 per cent of methyl pentosans. 



A modification of the furfurol-hydrochloric acid method for estimating 

 pentosans, K. H. Boddenkr and B. Tollens (Jour. Laiidw., J8 (1910), No. 3, 

 PI). 232-231). — The authors present a modification of the Krober method 

 (E. S. R., 13, p. 320) for prec-ipitating the furfurol in the distillate with 

 phloroglucin at a temperature of from SO to 85° G. instead of in the cold as is 

 usual. The furfurol in this method quickly settles in the bottom of the tiask 

 as gray-blue-green flakes. The flask containing the distillate, after treatment 

 \^'ith phloroglucin, is cooled for 1^ hours and the residue collected on a Gooch 

 crucible, where it is washed with 150 cc. of water and dried at from 95 to 98°. 

 The residue is weighetl in a glass-stoppered bottle. 



In reg'ard to the pentosans of some wood-destroying fungi, J. L. Wichebs 

 and B. Tollens (Jour. Landw., oS (1910), No. 3, pp. 238-242).— This work, 

 while dealing with the pentosan content of various wood-destroying fungi, 

 contains also a comparative study of the Krober method (E. S. R., 13, p. 320) 

 and the Boddener method (see above), and as the result of which the authors 

 recommend the use of the Knjber method for general analytical purposes. 



The results of the pentosan examinations were as follows: 



Pentosan content of several icood-dcsiroi/iiuj fungi. 



In addition to pentosans, methyl pentosans were found to be present in 

 these .fungi. The results of a hydrolysis of Fomes fomentarius are also re- 

 ported. 



The determination of pentosans and methyl pentosans in cereals and fungi, 

 M. ISHiDA and B. Tollens (Jour. Landw., 59 (1911), No. 1, pp. 59-67, fig. 1; 

 abs. in Chem. Ahs., 5 (1911), No. 15, pp. 2507, 2508).— The results for pen- 

 tosans and methyl pentosans calculated to dry substance were as follows: 

 "Corn 4.60 and 0.94 per cent, wheat 6.93 and 1.72, rye 8.41 and 1.69. barley 



9.04 and 1.96, oats 12.39 and 1.52, Polyporus fomentarius 2.58 and 1.74, P. pinicola 

 5.11 and 2.21. P. Jiirsutus 4.62 and 2.08, P. fnlvus 4.10 and 1.01, Dadalea quercina 



3.05 and 1.^7 per cent." 



Pentosans in lower fungi, A. W. Dox and R. E. Neidig (Jour. Biol. Chem., 

 9 (1911), No. 3-4, pp. 267-269; abs. in Chem. Abs., 5 (1911), No. 15, p. 2488).— 

 Six saprophytic molds, comprising the species Aspergillus niger, A. fumigatus, 

 A. clavatus, Penicillium chrysogenum, P. camemherti, and P. expam,sunv, were 

 separated from a medium which consisted of cane sugar and inorganic salts, 

 and the pentosan content of each determined. It varied between 0.86 and 1.17 

 per cent. 



Fixing and staining tannin in plant tissues with nitrous ethers, A. E. 

 Vinson (Bot. Gaz., 49 (1910), No. 3, pp. 222-224, figs. 3).— In connection with 

 other work the author noted that the giant tannin cells contained in unripe 

 dates and persimmons were darkened when stimulated to rii^ening by vapors of 

 amyl and ethyl nitrite, and he points out that the above facts may be of value 

 in studying the distribution of tannin in fruits. 



