RHCHXT WORK IX A(;R1CULTURAI. SCIIiXCli 



AGRICULTURAL CHEMISTRY. 



Nitrogen availabilities by modifications of the alkaline permanganate 

 method, S. M. Ili;i;ui( k ( \ irfihiiti Shi. h'pt. li)0(j, pp. 27-30). — Tests of the 

 ollicial alkaline peniian^'anateiuctliod and various niodificatious of it on sodium 

 nitrate, dried blood, horn meal, hoof meal, bone meal, tankage, cotton-seed 

 nie.-ii. raw leather, and jx-at are reported, from which it is concluded that the 

 followinL: modification of the method gives most satisfactory results: "Weigh 

 out an amount of the s:inii)le containing 0.045 gm. of nitrosen and transfer to 

 a l..")00 cc. tlii< k-\vall(>d distilling flask. After connecting with a condenser to 

 which a receiver containing a standard acid has been attached, digest with a 

 mixture of 400 cc. of ammonia-free water and 100 cc. of alkaline permanganate 

 soluti()n ( IC) gm. of potassium permauRanate and 1.50 gni. of sodium hydrate 

 dissolved in water and made to the bulk of one liter) till lIjO cc. is distilled." 



The determination of phosphoric acid in form of ammonium phosphomo- 

 lybdate, H. Pellet (Bui. Aftsoc. Vhim. aS'hc/-. cf Di.still.. 24 (1906), pp. 

 525-528; ahs. in Chem. ZcntbL, WOl. I, No. 7. p. 505). — The author refers to 

 the investii^ations of Craftiau on this subject as confirming the results of pre- 

 vious woi'k by himself, and exi)lains the details of his method. 



Phosphotungstic acid as a reagent for potassium, G. C. Meyer (Chem. 

 Zt;/.. ol (t'Jiil). No. 13. pp. 158, 159). — Experiments are reported to show that 

 l)hosi(hotunjistic acid jjossesses much the same i)roperties as a reagent for potas- 

 sium as ])hosi)homolybdic acid. Using a 20 per cent solution of sodium phos- 

 photunt^state about as accurate results were ()l)tained, esitecially with high per- 

 centajre solutions of i)otash salts, as with the platinum chlorid. The method is 

 asserted to be cheai) and convenient and especially adapted to industrial work. 



On the determination of the calcium carbonate content of marls, ^[. J. 

 Van't Kkui.js {Chem. Wcckhl.. >, (IDdl). pp. 29-32: <ihs. in Chcni. Zciifhl.. 1907, 

 I, So. Ill, pp. 750. 757). — The aiitlior reports that good results can be obtained 

 by the use of acetic acid to set tlie c.-irbon dioxid free if llie fi'esh soil is first 

 gro\uid with successi\-e small jiortions of watei". 



Recommendations as to the nomenclature of the proteins (I'roc. ('hem. 

 Soc. London. 23 (1907), No. 321, pp. 53-67). — A joint connnittee of the Physio- 

 logical Society and the London Chemical Society has reconuuended a classifica- 

 tion of tlie nitrogenims constituents of animal and vegetable products. "The 

 word protein is reconuuended as the general name of the whole group of sub- 

 stances under coiisi(ler;ition." "The word proteid. which is used in different 

 senses in this country and in Germany, should be alwlished. ... If used at 

 all, the term albuminoid should be regarded as a synonym of i)rotein." 



Protein is divided into i)rotamins, such as salmin and sturin ; histones. like 

 those separated from blood corpuscles; albumins, such as egg albumin and 



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