412 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



The water found in the cans of preserved vegetables, according to the 

 author, contains no copper, even when large amounts are found in the vege- 

 tables themselves, and the same is true of the vinegar from pickles containing 

 copper. It is his custom to disregard such liquid in determining copper. 



The guaiac reaction for determining the quality of flour, A. Corsini (Riv. 

 I(j. r ^(inlt. I'lih. [Rome], 16 (1906), No. 19; ahs. in Hijfj. ZentbL, 2 [1907), No. 

 22, pp. 689, 690). — The value of the guaiac reaction for judging the quality of 

 flour is insisted upon and data regarding its use are reported. 



Some experiments on the oxidation of flour and milk, A. Corsini (.lrc/(. 

 Farmacoh Hper. e Scl. Aff., 6 {1901), No. 6. pp. 357-362). — This work covers 

 much the same ground as that noted above. 



The behavior of wheat and rye flour to methylene blue and to starch paste, 

 with notes on the formation of higher alcohols, F. Schardinger {C'rntbl. 

 Bakt. [etc.^, 2. AM., 18 (1907), No. 24-25, i)p. 7J,8-767, fig. i ) .—Differences in 

 behavior of the two sorts of flour to methylene blue and to starch paste at a 

 given temperature were noted. Notes are included regarding micro-organisms 

 which form higher alcohols from flour. 



A source of error in the use of petroleum ether for fat extraction, ,T. ^Iar- 

 SHALL (Aincr. Jour. Pharm., 79 (1907), No. 7, pp. 315-317). — In a commercial 

 petroleum ether derived from the Pennsylvania oil field the writer found an 

 appreciable quantity of residue after distilling and evaporating, which makes 

 it " evident that a petroleum ether of this sort is not adapted for use in 

 making extractions." Residue was also obtained from commercial ''ethyl ether 

 distilled over sodium." 



Experiments on the Maumene test and the iodin value of certain oils. 

 E. RicHTER (Ztschr. Angew. Chem., 20 (1907), No. 37, pp. 1 605-16 Uf, figs. 3, 

 dgms. .'i). — Different forms of apparatus for use in^carrying on the Maumene 

 test are described and results of studies with rape seed, poppy, peanut, and 

 olive oil and mixed oils are reported. 



Report on the work of the agricultural chemical control station of Saxony, 

 1906, H. C. MuLLER (Ber. Agr. Chem. KontroUstnt. HtiUe, 1906, pp. //?).— A 

 brief account is given of the i)ersonnel of the station and the very extensive 

 control work done during the year, which included the examination of .3S.!)30 

 samples of various products, including 8,075 samples of fertilizers. 2,214 

 samples of feeding stuffs, 22,776 samples of milk and dairy products, and 

 4,877 samples of seed, besides various other miscellaneous materials. 



Unification of tenns used in reporting analytical results, C. (J. Hopkins 

 (Jour. Amer. Chem. Soc, 29 (1907), No. 9, pp. 13 12-1 31 Jt; abs. in Science, n. 

 ser., 26 (1907), No. 660, p. 2'i9). — This is an abstract of a report presented at 

 the Toronto meeting of the American Chemical Society embodying the recom- 

 mendations which had already been made to the associations of Official Agri- 

 cultural Chemists and of American Agricultural Colleges and Experiment Sta- 

 tions (E. S. R., IS, p. 415). 



A new shaking device for the chemical laboratory, J. M. Camp (Jour. 

 Amer. Chem. Soc, 29 (1907), No. 8, pp. 1210, 1211, pi. i).— The apparatus 

 described " consists of a frame supporting a vertical shaft, which is revolved 

 by a six-inch pulley wheel. The -upjier part of the shaft is bent slightly from 

 the perpendicular. Encircling the bent portion of the shaft is a hub which in 

 turn supports a flat disk on which the flasks to be shaken are attached. The 

 hub and disk are prevented from turning, when the shaft is revolved, by 

 suitable teeth on the under side of the hub meshing into corresponding teeth 

 on the top of the supiwrting frame." The apparatus gives a pitching and 

 tossing motion which is said to be very effective for the purpose intended. 



