AGRICULTURAL CHEMISTRY — AGROTECHNY. 717 



indicus, Phaseolus mungo, P. vulgaris albus, P. coccineus, P. lunattts, P. 

 inamcenus, DoHchos lablab, Vigna catjang, Canavalia ensifonnis, and Vo- 

 andzeia suMciTanea. Physical and chemical constants are reported, and the 

 fatty acids were also studied. All the oils were noudrying in character. 



Heat of combustion of bagasse from Hawaiian cane, R. S. Norris (Ha- 

 waiian Bugar Planters' Sta., Agr. and Chem. Bui. ^0, pp. 5-23). — Using an At- 

 water modification of the Berthelot bomb, the thermal value of fiber from leading 

 varieties of Havraiian cane was determined, primarily for the purpose of ascer- 

 taining whether the variation in the amount of steam obtained in factories when 

 different kinds of cane are being gi-ound is due to the thermal value of the 

 bagasse used for firing. 



'• The results are practically the same as those obtained for the thermal value 

 of cane fiber in other countries as [summarized] and show conclusively that 

 the variation in the steam when different kinds of cane are being ground is 

 not due to differences in the thermal value of the bagasse. The maximum 

 thermal value found was 4,636 calories (8,334 B. T. U.) and the minimum 4.494 

 calories (8,089 B. T. U.) — a difference of only 3 per cent." 



The 2 standard varieties of cane grown on the islands, Lahaiua and Caledonia, 

 were found to have high thermal values. Tlie average thermal value of cane 

 fiber grown at the station and on Hawaiian plantations was 4,600 calories, 

 which is 100 calories more per kilogi-am than for the bagasse therefrom. 



The carbon and hydrogen contents, respectively, were for the bagasse 48.13 

 and 5.63 per cent ; for the fiber 48.9 and 6 pei- cent ; for the rind fiber 48.75 and 

 5.85 per cent; and for the pith fiber 47.2 and 5.9 per cent. "The rind fiber was 

 about 4 per cent higher in thermal value than the pith fiber. This would tend 

 toward giving canes with stalks of small diameter a higher value than those 

 with large stalks, but an examination of the results shows that this influence 

 is overcome by other variations in the cane." The thermal value of fiber from 

 nodes was found to be IJ per cent higher than that from the internodes in the 

 2 standard varieties of cane in Hawaii. 



On the basis of the values recorded the fuel values of various bagasses may 

 be compared with one another, and bagasse with other fuels. Some figures 

 for the thermal value of subsidiary fuels in cane sugar factories are also in- 

 cluded. 



A bibliography on bagasse as fuel is appended. 



Sisal and the utilization of sisal waste, E. V. Wilcox and W. McGeorge 

 (Haumii Sta. Press Bui. 35, pp. 2Jf). — Continuing previous work (E. S. R., 15, 

 p. 244), the conditions of the sisal industry in Hawaii were reviewed, and a 

 chemical study of sisal and henequen was made for the purpose of finding a 

 means of utilizing the residue after decortication as a fertilizer, stock food, or 

 as a source of industrial alcohol. 



The nitrogen content of 6 samples of waste was found to vary between 0.45 

 and 1.35 per cent ; potash from 0.69 to 6.38 per cent ; phosphoric acid from 0.46 

 to 2.79 per cent. Ash analyses of the leaves showed that " the plant feeds most 

 heavily upon phosphates, lime, magnesia, potash, and soda, and since nearly all 

 this mineral matter remains in the waste the analyses strongly indicate the 

 advisability of returning the waste to the soil as fertilizer." 



To use it as a stock food also seems possible, although it is first necessary to 

 bring it to a dry condition. Converted into an air-dry form the minimum 

 figures obtained were moisture 5 per cent, protein 5.78 per cent, nitrogen-free 

 extract 60.01 per cent, fiber 17.97 per cent, and ash 11.24 per cent. 



