314 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



the 20 CC. of acid in order to increase tlie volume and thus prevent the loss of 

 ammonia. 



"After the distillation, the contents of the flask, or test tube, are titrated 

 back with seventieth-normal sodium hydroxid, using alizarin red as indicator. 

 The percentage of nitrogen as ammonia is found by subtracting the number of 

 cubic centimeters of alkali used from the number of cubic centimeters of 

 standard acid used, and dividing the difference by 5." 



The method as given has been tried on 22 samples of fertilizers. 



Estimation of water-soluble phosphoric acid in ammonium superphos- 

 phates, E. BiJTTNEE (Cheiii. Ztg., 37 (1913), No. 66, p. 662; obs. in Jour. Chem. 

 Soc. [London], 104 (1913), No. 609, II, p. 621).— About 0.5 per cent more water- 

 soluble phosphoric acid may be obtained when ammonium superphosphate is 

 .shaken for 30 minutes with water at a temperature of 18 to 20° C. than when 

 the temperature is allowed to fall to 16° during the shaking process. The 

 solubility also increases with the fineness of the superphosphate. 



The determination of phosphoric acid in Thomas slag powder, M. Popp 

 (Ztschr. Aiiffeir. VJirm., 26 {1913), So. 71, Aufsatsteil, p. 4S0). — The results 

 obtained with the Loreuz method agreed with those given by the magnesium 

 precipitation method only when the solution contained large amounts of cal- 

 cium. Evidently a compensation occurs between the calcium and phosphoric 

 acid. If twice the amount of citrate solution is used, low results are found. 

 Magnesium is also easily precipitated and consequently no uniform ammonium 

 magnesium phosphate is obtained. Satisfactory results are obtained only when 

 the phosphoric acid is precipitated under identical conditions. 



The work emphasizes the fact that the citrate magnesium phosphate method 

 is a compensation method. When the results agree with those found by the 

 Lorenz method it is an indication that the latter is yielding low results. 



The rapid estimation of mag'nesia in limestone by means of the hydrogen 

 electrode, J. H. IIildebrand and H. S. Harned (Orig. Coinmun. 8. Intenuit. 

 Cong. Appl. Chem. [Washlngtmi and New York], 1 (1912), Sect. I, pp. 217-225, 

 figs. S; abs. in Jour. Chem. Soc. [London], 104 (1913), No. 610, II, p. 727).— The 

 method is based on the fact that if normal alkali is added to a solution con- 

 sisting of calcium and magnesium chlorids, the magnesium is pi'ecipitated first 

 and the end point is observed by a further rise in potential. 



The apparatus required is shown in the original. 



The hydrolysis of levulosans and its application to plant analysis, P. L. de 

 ViLMORiN and F. Levallois {BuI. Soc. Chiiii. France, 4. xcr.. 13 (1913), No. 13, 

 pp. 684-691; abs. in Jour. Chem. Soc. [London], 104 (1913), No. 610, II, p. 736).— 

 This is a study of the behavior of inulin toward hydrolyzing agents. 



The use of sulphosalicylic acid (0.72 to 4.3 gm. per liter) at a temperature of 

 80 to 100° C. is recommended. The acid has no effect on the subsequent esti- 

 mation of the reducing sugars by Fehling's solution. Sulphuric and oxalic 

 acids are said to give figures which are too variable. Acetic acid in concentra- 

 tions of from 3 to 10 per cent and hydrolyzing at 80° gives fairly concordant 

 results, but the acid and its salts interfere with the subsequent determination 

 of the sugars. 



The anatomical structure of some foreign pod fruits, M. Kondo (Ztschr. 

 Untersuch. Nahr. u. Genussmtl., 25 (1913), No. 1, pp. 1-56, figs. .^0).— This is a 

 description of the gross and minute anatomy of Glycine soja, DoHchos mela- 

 nophthalmus, Vigna sinensis, D. laWah, Canavalia ensiformis, Lathyrus sati- 

 rus, and Ciccr arictinvm. An analytical key is included. 



About the nature and significance of the quantitative precipitin reaction 

 in honey examinations, .1. Thoni (Ztschr. Untersuch. Nahr. v. Genussmtl., 

 25 (1913). No. 8, pp. 490-493).— The preciidtin reaction (E. S. R., 28, p. 22) was 



