1108 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



evaporated. The residual fat is dissolved iii boiling alcohol. After cooling for 

 15 minutes at 5° C. the alcoholic layer is filtered and cooled to 0° C, when the 

 characteristic crystals are deposited and identified by a magnification of 250 to 

 300 times. 



Detection of cocoanut oil in butter, W. Ludwig and H. Haupt (Ztschr. Uiiter- 

 sucli. Xahi: u. (/c»h.s«;»??., 13 (1!)07), ^^o. 10, pp. 605-610).— studies of the re- 

 fraction and color reactions i)f the different fatty acids in butter and cocoanut 

 oil are reported. The addition of cocoanut oil to butter, according to the results 

 obtained, lowers the index of refraction and favors the formation of a red color 

 with anilin and furfurol. 



On the practical importance of tlie reducing power of milk, E. Brand 

 (Miiiichen. Bled. Wchtischr.. .',', (lOOl), lYo. 17, pp. .S2i-.S':?3).— Schardinger's 

 reaction is considered an important means of judging the quality of milk. The 

 method, as given by the author, is as follows : To 10 cc. of milk at a tempera- 

 ture of 68 to 70° C. is added 0.5 cc. of a I'eagent composed of formalin 5 cc, 

 saturated alcoholic solution of methylene bine 5 cc. and water 190 cc. The 

 methylene blue should be entirely reduced within minutes. A second sample 

 boiled for a short period and then treated with this reagent should not be 

 decolorized. 



The fractional distillation of coal-tar creosote, A. L. Dean and E. Bateman 

 (V. H. Dcpt. A<ir., Forest Scrv. Give. 80, pp. 31. fic/s. 17). — This circtilar gives 

 preliminary results of a study of the influence of the vessel on the fractional 

 distillation of creosote, the influence of the rate of creosote distillations, the 

 temperatures for taking fractions, and the sources of error in creosote frac- 

 tionation. 



Report of the division of chemistry, B. L. IIartwell, 'SI. Steel, and J. P. 

 Gray (Rhode J.shind tSta. lipt. 1D06, pp. lSl-185). — A brief account of the work 

 of this department of the station during 190G is given, with analyses of mis- 

 cellaneous materials, including ground limestone, hydrated lime, limekiln ashes, 

 guano, basic slag, acid phosphate, muriate of potash, sulphate of potash, potas- 

 sium carbonate, nitrate of soda, sulphate of ammonia, dried blood, acidulated 

 fish, tankage, bone, corn meal, and mixed feed. 



Annual reports on the progress of chemistry for 1906 (Lo)idoii: Guerney 

 tf- Jackson, 1D07, pp. IX +387). — This is the third volume of this series of I'eviews 

 of progress in chemistry issued by the London Chemical Society. As hereto- 

 fore, it includes reports on general and physical chemistry by A. Findlay, inor- 

 ganic chemistry by P. P. Bedson, organic chemistry by H. J. H. Fenton, J. B. 

 Cohen, and J. T. Hewitt, stereochemistry by W. .J. I'ope, analytical chemistry by 

 A. C. Chapman, physiological chemistry by W. I). Halliburton, agricultural 

 chemistry and vegetable i)hysiology by J. A. Voelcker. mineralogical chemistry 

 by A. Hutchinson, and radioactivity by F. Soddy. 



The section on agricultural chemistry and vegetable physiology (pp. 25G-293) 

 reviews progress during lOOti in investigations relating to fixation of the nitrogen 

 of the air in the form of calcium nitrate and calcium cyanamid, and the agri- 

 cultural utilization of these products ; the fixation of nitrogen by micro-organisms 

 in the soil ; the assimilation of nitrogen by plants directly and through their 

 root tubercles ; nitrification, denitriflcation, and decomposition of nitrogenous 

 matter in the soil ; nitrogen in rain water ; green manuring and humus of the 

 soil; optimum ratio of lime to magnesia in soils; conditions influencing the 

 availability of phosphates in soils; the assimilation of potash and soda by 

 plants; the utilization of the rarer constituents (manganese, cop])er, aluminum, 

 mercury, silver, iodin, and fluorin) l)y plants; methods of studying the availal)il- 

 ity of s(»il constituents; the influence of sterilization and oxidation upon the avail- 

 ability of soil constituents ; and germination, assimilation, development, micro- 



