RECENT WORK IN AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE. 



AGEICULTURAL CHEMISTRY. 



Chemistry and Canadian agriculture, F. T. Shutt (Science, n. ser., 26 

 {1901), No. 661, pp. 265-276). — This is the address of the chairman of the sec- 

 tion of asricultnral chemistry at the Toronto meeting of the American Chemical 

 Society, reviewing the climatic and soil conditions of tlie different provinces of 

 the Dominion of Canada and the chemical work which has been done under the 

 author's direction in the laboratory of the Central Experimental Farm at Ot- 

 tawa, more particularly on the relation of organic matter and nitrogen to the 

 crop producing power of soils. The article includes data relating to the nitrogen 

 content of various leguminous plants, the increase of soil nitrogen due to the 

 growth of such plants, and the evidence of soil enrichment from subsequent 

 crop yields. 



Progress in agricultural chemistry during 1906, A. Stutzek (Cheni. Zfg., 

 .il (1907), Nos. JfS, pp. 5J,7-5.'i9; J,',, pp. 561, 562; abs. in Clicm. Zentbl., 1907, 

 II, No. 5, p. Ji2Ji). — ^This is a review of the principal reports of investigations 

 (mainly German) during the year on soils, nutrition of plants, fertilizers, feed- 

 ing of animals, feeding stuffs, soil bacteriology, and analytical methods. 



The constitution of the alkali salts of phenolphthalein and the behavior 

 of phenolphthalein toward alkali solutions of high concentration, B. M. 

 Margoschks (Ztsvhr. Aiigcir. Vhcui., 20 (1907), Nos. 5, pp. 1^1^191 ; 6, pp. 226- 

 231). — It is shown that with an excess of highly concentrated alkali solution 

 colorless alkali combinations of phenolphthalein are formed. 



A new method for the determination of ammonia, A. 11onch£:se (Jour. 

 I'hann. et Chim., 25 (1907), pp. 611-617; Bui. Soc. Chtm. France, //. srr., 1 

 (1907), No. 16-17, pp. 900-905; abs. in Analyst, 32 (1907), No. 377, p. 303; Jour. 

 Chcm. Soc. [London], 92 (1907), No. 538, II, p. 651; Ann. Chim. Analyt.. 12 

 (1907), No. 9, pp. 366, 367). — The method described is based upon Delepine's 

 observations that formaldehyde reacts with anuuonium chlorid to form hexa- 

 methylene-tetramine, and that if the formaldehyde is in excess all of the acid 

 of the ammonium salt is liberated and may be titrated with standard alkali 

 (tenth-normal sodium hydroxid) using phenolphthalein as indicator. 



Methods of estimating the metabolism of nitrogen in subjects in health 

 and disease, M. and H. Labbe (Coinpt. Rend. Soc. Biol. [Paris], 62 (1907), 

 No. 16, pp. 826-828). — From a series of determinations by the Kjeldahl method, 

 the Ilegnard urea method, and the Morner method for total nitrogen and urea 

 nitrogen, the conclusion is reached that the first-mentioned method is superior, 

 as the others give too low results. 



The determination of potash by the platinum chlorid method, H. J. F. 

 DE Vries (Chcm. Weelcbl., .', (1907), pp. 231-2Ji2: abs. in Jour. Chcm. Soc. [Lon- 

 don], 92 (1907), No. 536, II, p. 501/). — " The causes of error in the estimation of 

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