AGRICULTURAL CHEMISTRY AGROTECHNY. 409 



On the reaction between sulphur and potassium hydroxid in aqueous solu- 

 tion, H. V. Tartar {Jour. Anier. C'hcm. 8oc., 35 {1913), No. 11, pp. 1741-1747). — 

 This material has been noted in the abstract above. 



On the valuation of lime-sulphur as an insecticide, H. V. Tartar {Jour. 

 Indus, and Emjin. Chcm., 6 {1914), No. 4, pp. 313-315).— This material has been 

 adequately noted in the abstract above. 



Soluble arsenic in mixtures of lead arsenate and soap, H. V. Tartar and 

 L. A. BuNDY {Jour. Indus, and Engin. Chem., 5 {1913), No. 7, pp. 561, 562). — 

 " These results show that in the mixtures of the soaps with the acid arsenates 

 large amounts of arsenic are rendered soluble. The results also indicate that 

 when a neutral (ortho) arsenate of lead is used with soap onlj- a very small 

 amount of arsenic is made soluble. Evidently, the use of a mixture of soap with 

 an acid arsenate of lead for spraying purposes would be a dangerous practice, 

 for the amount of soluble arsenic would be sufhcient to burn badly the foliage 

 of fruit trees." 



The present status of the synthesis of plant alkaloids, II. Bauer {Der 

 Heutigc Stand der Synthese von Pflanzenalkaloiden. Brunstoick, 1913, pp. 

 ¥111+144)- — This monograph deals with the synthesis of the alkaloids com- 

 prising the pyridiu, tropin, isoquinolin, and purin groups, the oxyphenylal- 

 ky lamia bases, and the synthesis of the cleavage products of alkaloids. An 

 extensive bibliography is distributed throughout the work. 



Solubility of casein in dilute acids, L. L. Van Slyke and O. B. Winteb 

 {Ahs. in Science, n. ser., 38 {1913), No. 983, p. 639).— " Casein, freshly pre- 

 pared by precipitating skim milk with acetic acid and washing free from acid, 

 was treated with 100 cc. of different acids of known strength for given periods 

 of time at definite temperatures and the undissolved residue determined. The 

 acids used were hydrochloric, sulphuric, lactic, and acetic; strength of solutions, 

 tenth-normal, 1/100-normul, l/SOO-normal ; time of contact, 1, 5, and 15 minutes; 

 temperatures, 15°, 25°, and 42°. In general, the amount of dissolved casein 

 increases with increase of temperature, time of contact, and concentration of 

 acid. Hydrochloric acid dissolves most, and then come in order, lactic, su'- 

 phuric, and acetic." 



A contribution to the history of corn sugar, P. L. de Vilmorin and F. 

 Levallois {Rev. Sci. [Paris], 51 {1913), I, No. 13, pp. 396-401) .—A resume of 

 the literature on the subject with a report of some experiments by the authors 

 themselves. 



Most of Heckel's findings (E. S. R., 29, p. 409) were confirmed. The fact that 

 the sugar develops and decomposes rapidly in the corn stalk is somewhat of a 

 handicap, but the indications are that some means may finally be devised 

 whereby the biological px'ocesses going on in the plant may be controlled. 



Contribution to our knowledge of the chemistry of gums and mucin sub- 

 stances, W. Schirmer {Arch. Pharm., 250 {1912), No. 3, pp. 230-251; aJjs. in 

 Chem. Zenthl., 1912, II, No. 3, pp. 195, i96).— This reports investigations with 

 reference to the gums of Anogeissus latifolius and Odina ivodier and the mucin- 

 like substances of Sassafras variifoMuiu, Althea offlcinalis, and Ulmus fulva. 



In regard to a uniform nomenclature for ferments, J. Giaji {Rev. Sci. 

 [Paris], 51 {1913), I, No. 11, pp. 333-335).— A plea for uniform nomenclature 

 for ferments and some suggestions in this connection. 



The existence of three types of proteolytic vegetable ferments in latexes, 

 Gerbeb {Gompt. Rend. Acad. Sd. [Paris], 157 {1913), No. 3, pp. 241-243). — 

 The proteolytic euzyms present in latexes from Ficus carica and Broussonetia 

 papyrifera are of three kinds, rennet (coagulating), casease (digesting), and 

 trypsin. The ferment of F. carica will not coagulate nor digest raw milk, 

 casein, and fibrin in the presence of traces of neutral salts of silver, copper, 



