AGEICULTUEAL CHEMISTRY AGROTECHNY. 13 



and the conclusion is drawn that micro-organisms, such as yeasts, bacteria, and 

 molds, play an important part in their formation." 



Polyatomic alcohols as sources of carbon for lower fungi, R. E. Neidig 

 {Jour. Biol. Chcm., 16 (1913), Xo. 1, pp. l/f3-U5; al>s. in Science, «. s0r., S8 

 {WIS), No. 984, P- 61/5). — The alcohols used as regards their utilization by 4 

 genera and 8 species of molds were methyl alcohol, glycol, glycerol, erythrite, 

 adonite, mauuit, dulcite, and sorbite. The molds were cultivated in media 

 containing these alcohols. 



" It was found that methyl alcohol produced no growth, glycol induced ger- 

 mination only, glycerol produced strong cultures, erythrite could be used by 

 the majority of molds and adonite by only a few, while all three of the 

 hexatomic alcohols may be regarded as good sources of carbon. These results 

 indicate that molds are able to use both optically active and inactive com- 

 pounds as sources of carbon. If viewed from the standpoint of their oxida- 

 tion products it is possible that active compounds are first formed and these 

 are then utilized in the development of the molds." 



Influence of certain org'anic substances upon the secretion of diastase by 

 various fungi, Christine Ch.\pman and W. C. Etheridge {Ahs. in Science, 

 n. sen, 38 {1913), No. 984, p. 675). — The influence of varying concentrations of 

 cane sugar, glucose, peptone, and tannic acid upon the secretion of diastase by 

 Aspergillus niger, A. oryzcr, PenicilUum cxpansum, P. camcmbcrti, Mucor 

 rouxii, and Cephalothccium roseum was investigated. Czapek's solution was 

 employed with the sugar replaced by 0.4 per cent soluble starch. 



In general it was found that the presence of any of these organic substances 

 retarded the action of diastase by the fungi, and the higher the concentration 

 the greater the retardation. 



Effect of acids upon the catalase of taka-diastase, R. E. Neidig {Abs. in 

 Science, n. scr., 38 {1913), No. 984, p. 675). — Data are given showing the 

 inhibitory effects of several of the Important inorganic and organic acids 

 toward the catalase of taka-diastase. 



" Curves were platted for different acid concentrations which show the quan- 

 tity of oxygen liberated at stated intervals. The acids, arranged in order of 

 the magnitude of their inhibiting effect for equi-normal solutions, are as 

 follows : Sulphuric, hydrochloric, oxalic, tartaric, citric, and acetic. The in- 

 hibiting effect of the first three was much more pronounced than that of the 

 others. Neutralization of the acid solution usually restored some of the 

 activity, the amount of increase depending upon the particular acid used. 

 Yau Slyke's amiuo-nitrogen apparatus was used in these experiments for 

 measuring the amount of oxygen liberated." 



About the presence of stachyose in beans and other legumes, G. Tanret 

 {Bid. Soc. Chini. France, 4. ser., 13 {1913), No. 4, pp. 176-182; abs. in Chem. 

 Ztg., 37 {1913), No. 33, p. 334). — Stachyose, when boiled with strontium oxid, 

 forms an insoluble compound from which sugar can easily be obtained. This 

 reaction was tried with various legumes and in all cases, with the exception 

 of peas, crystallized stachyose could be obtained, although it was always mixed 

 or combined with crystallized saccharose. According to this stachyose forms 

 a portion of the coloring material in foodstuffs. 



The juice of Ticus coronata, an incomplete vegetable pancreatic juice 

 ■without amylase but with a predominating proteolytic enzym. — ^A com- 

 parison with F. carica, C. Gerbeb {Compt. Rend. Acad. Sci. [Paris], 156 {1913), 

 No. 25, pp. 1917-1919). — ^The latex of F. coronata is conspicuous for its absence 

 of caoutchouc. When it leaves the tree it is without color and on standing it 

 rapidly turns reddish brown but remains transparent. It contains an amylase 

 and in this respect it resembles Morus alba. The lipolytic power of the latex 



