AGRICULTURAL, CHEMISTRY. 519 



"Two viirieties of Bas.'iia iHirhii are known, the fruit of which yields fats 

 of slijihtly different i)roi)erties, namely, shea nuts and Ivariti nuts. The fats 

 from tliese different varieties are frequently spoken of indifferently as shea 

 butter, but the constants of the resi»ective fats present marked differences. . . . 

 In the author's experience the kariti nut always yields considerably less fat 

 of lower melting point and higher iodiu value than the shea nut. . . . The 

 insoluble acids in shea butter are oleic, stearic, and lauric, with a possible 

 small quantity of linolic, and accordingly from the iodiu value of the mixed 

 fatty acids we are able to calculate the approximate percentage composition, 

 namely, oleic acid 60 per cent, stearic acid 30 to 35 per cent, lauric acid 3 to 4 

 per cent." 



The soy bean and its probable effect on the markets ( Oil, I'liint luid Diikj 

 Rvixirtcr, l/i {l!)0!)), No. 25, pi). 7, 8). — It is pointed out that the recent large 

 shipments of soy beans to P]urope indicate that in the future llie oil and cake 

 of the soy bean are destined to compete in some degree with linseed, cotton-seed, 

 and corn products. 



Sugar; a handbook for planters and refiners, J. A. K. and H. K. 11. Nkwlands 

 {London and New York, 1909, pp. XXXVI+87ii, pis. 12, flffs. 236). — This is a 

 new adition of a work published some time ago under the title of Sugar Grow- 

 ing and Refining. The matters treated ai'e the culture of sugai'-yiolding plants 

 and the manufacture, refining, and analysis of cane, beet, palm, maple, melon, 

 sorghum, and starch sugars, with copious statistics of their production and 

 commerce, and a chapter on the distillation of rum. 



Influence of clarification on the valuation of raw sugars and molasses 

 containing invert sugar, II. C. Prinsen Geerligs (Intrrnat. ^iif/ar Jour., 11 

 {1909), No. 126, pp. 276-281). — Methods prescribed by various authorities are 

 summarized. 



The author proposes that " solutions of sugars, molasses, etc., in which it is 

 desired to determine the invert sugar (glucose, or reducing sugars) should 

 if alkalin (by phenol])hthalein) be neutralized with acetic acid and the neutral 

 or acid solution be clarified with lead subacetate, the excess of the lead salt 

 being removed from the filtrate by the addition of sodium carbonate, sodium 

 sulphate, or other suitable precipitant." 



Diastases. Methods of research, and progress made, r. Thomas {Bui. Inst. 

 Pasteur, 7 {1909), Nos. 2, pp. 41-52; 3, pp. 89-100; 4, pp. 137-152).— A review 

 and summary, with bibliography appended. 



The determination of nitrogen in nitrates by means of stannous chlorid 

 and iron filings, A. Kleiber {Chem. Ztfj., 33 {1909), No. 53, pp. ^79, 480; ahs. 

 in Jour. Soc. Chem. Indus., 28 {1909), No. 10, p. 521; Analyst, 34 {1909), No. 

 S99, p. 294). — The method is in brief as follows: 



To 7.5 cc. of a solution of 10 gm. of the substance in 150 cc. of water, add 

 5 gm. of solid commercial stannous chlorid, 15 cc. of concentrated hydrochloric 

 acid, and 4 to 5 gm. of iron filings. Heat for 15 minutes on a water bath or 

 on a wire gauze over a small flame, add 90 to 100 cc. of water, a piece of 

 paraffin wax as large as a pea, if necessary, and about 40 cc. of concentrated 

 caustic soda. Distill over a large flame so that distillation is complete in half an 

 hour. Collect the distillate in 20 cc. of half-normal sulphuric acid and titrate 

 with fourth-normal baryta solution. Deduct 0.2 from the number of cubic 

 centimqters of baryta solution used as a correction for the ammonia left behind 

 in the distilling flask. 



The. preparation of soil samples for chemical analysis, G. M. MacNider 

 {Jour. Indus, and Engin. Chem., 1 {1909), No. 7, pp. ////7--'///.9).— Studies of "the 

 proper sized sieve to use in preparing soil samples for chemical analysis when 



