RliCENT WORK IN AGRICULTURAL Sdl^NCE. 



AGRICULTURAL CHEMISTRY. 



Principles and practice of agricultural analysis, II. \V. Wilicy {E(tf<t<)it, 

 I'd.: The CJiriiiifdl I'lih. Co.. I'.liiV,, vol. 1, 2. ed.. rrr. innl ciil.. i>i>. .\7/ + 6".J'<". jils. 

 IS. fKjs. JJ). — It is stated in the prefaco that "so rapid has Ihhmi llic advance of 

 a^criciiltural science tliat in the preparation of the second edition of this volume 

 it has lieeu found necessary to ])ractically rewrite it. A consideral)le part of the 

 contents of tlie first edition of this vohune relating as nuich. if not more, to 

 ferlilizers tlian to soils, has been transferred to the second volume, but new 

 matter more than eciuivalent thereto in bulk has been inserted. The latest 

 improved methods have been described, in so far as they are based on new 

 l)rinciples or have secured better results. An attempt has been made to bring 

 out moi-e fully the i)rinciples of procedure involved in order that the present 

 voliuue might not cmly mirror the latest advances in science, but also, to some 

 extent, reflect the philosophy of method and practice. To this end, many of the 

 older methods, long ont of vogue, are retained, because in them are found the 

 beginnings of fundamental jn-ocedures which serve to uinfy the processes of 

 analysis and render more intelligible the modern methods." 



The bacteriological niethod in chemical research, W. Omelianski {Arch. 

 Sri. HioL [m. Fetcrslh], 12 (1906). No. S, pp. 22-'/-2//7').— Reviewing the rapid 

 progress which has recently been made in bacteriologi<'al investigation, the 

 author suggests that in view of the intimate relation which exists between 

 bacteriological and chemical reiictions it is time that this alliance was real- 

 ized in the establishment of a science of micro-biological chemistry similar 

 to i)hysiological chemistry, technical chemistry, etc. He points out that here- 

 tofore the bacteriological method has been used to study almost exclusively the 

 natural processes of transformation of matter notwithstanding the fact that 

 it has enriched chennstry by a series of perfectly new reactions and transfor- 

 mations, lie is convinced that the sciences of chemistry and bacteriology 

 should be united and that both will be advanced thereby, chemistry by being 

 rurnished witli a new source of reagents and reactions, and bacteriology by 

 having the aid of chemistry in solving a large number of very complicated 

 chemic:il problems. 



The duty of chemistry to agriculture, C. G. Hopkins (Illinois »S7f;. C'irc. 

 103. pii. 21). — Tliis is the address of the president of the Association of Otticial 

 Agricultural Chennsts delivered at the annual convention at Washington. D. C, 

 NovemI)er S, 1 !)()(!. 



On chemical examinations of arable soils, C. G. Eggertz (Mcddcl. K. 

 Laiidthr. Akad. E.rjttlfiill. \Storkholiii\. 19011. Xo. 91. pp. 1-62; K. Landthr. 

 Akad. Handl. och Tidfikr., Jf.i {1906). No. 3--',, pp. 111-236; ahft. in Ccntbl. Agr. 

 Chnn.. 35 {1906). No. 12, pp. 193-199) .—The author gives a general discussion 

 of methods of soil analysis and considers at some length the appearance and 

 importance to plants of the various mineral constituents of the soils. 



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