EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



YoL. XXI. Septemijei!, 1J)01). No. 4. 



RECENT WORK IN A(;RICULTURAL SCIENCE. 



AGRICirLTURAL CHEMISTRY. 



Annual reports on the progress of chemistry for 1908 (Ann, Rpts. Prog. 

 Chvin. [Luiulon], J (1008). pp. VIII+2D.5, figs. J).— This is the fifth volume of 

 this series of reviews of progress in chemistry issued by tlie London Chemical 

 Society. As heretofore, it includes reports on geueral and physical chemistiy 

 by A. Findlay, inorganic chemistry by H. Marshall, organic chemistry by C. II. 

 Desch and G. T. Morgan, analytical chemistry by X. R. Ling, physiological 

 chemistry by W. D. Halliburton, agricultural chemistry and vegetable pliysiology 

 by A. D. Hall, and crystallography by W. J. Pope. 



The section on agricultural chemistry and vegetable physiology reviews in- 

 vestigations in soil bacteriology, chemistry, and physics ; chemistry of the grow- 

 ing plant ; manures and manuring ; chemistry of animal nutrition ; and chemical 

 analysis. It is stated that during the year the activity of the many workers in 

 the varied field of agricultural chemistry and vegetable physiology " has been 

 well maintained, although nothing very novel has come to light either in the 

 way of a discovery or a new point of view." 



Colloid chemistry and some of its technical aspects, J. Alexander {Jour, 

 tioc. Chem. Indus., 28 (1909), l<io. 6, pp. 280-285, fig. 1). — The relation of colloid 

 chemistry to clay and pottery, plaster of Paris, boiler scale, soils and fertilizers, 

 electroplating and electrodeposition of metals, metallurgy, dyeing, soap, milk, ice 

 cream, confectionery, filtration, and chemical analysis is discussed, with numer- 

 ous references to literature. 



The relation of colloids to agricultural chemistry, P. Ehrenbero {Ztschr. 

 Chcni. II. Indus. KoUoide. 3 (IDGS), pp. 193-206; ahs. in Chem. ZentbJ., 1909, I, 

 No. 7, p. 572). — The author discusses, on the basis of the older as well as the 

 more recent literature of the subject, the impoi'tauce of colloids in relation to 

 the physical, chemical, and bacteriological properties of soils, and shows that 

 the results of more recent investigations relating to colloids may greatly aid in 

 solving problems in agricultural chemistry. 



Weathering in the light of colloid chemistry, F. Cornu (Ztschr. Chem. u. 

 Indus. Kolloidr. '/ {1909), No. (1, pp. 291-295). — This article points out certain 

 applications of colloid chemistry in surface and secular weathering, and in 

 oxidation, cementation, and decomposition processes. 



Contributions to the knowledge of plant phosphatids {Ztschr. Physiol, 

 Chem., 58 {1909), No. 0, pp. 500-525; aUs. in Chem Zvntbl., 1909, I, No. 12, pp. 



301 



