AGRICULTURAL CHEMISTRY. 809 



of permanganate is bleached by an excess of standard oxalic acid and the solu- 

 tion is then titrated to color by permanganate. The amount of potassium oxid 

 is found by multiplying the oxygen value of the amount of potassium per- 

 manganate used by the factor 1.09." 



Estimation of phosphoric acid by the Pemberton and Pemberton-sulphuric 

 acid methods, U. H. (!. Lacjeks {Chvm. WevkhL, .', {1907), />/j. 6S2-(!S't; dbs. in 

 Jour. Vhem. Soc. [London], 92 (1901), No. 5J,1, II, li. 907).— The author criti- 

 cises these methods unfavorably. 



The use of calcium, nitrate in oxidation fusions, A. Stutzer (Ztschr. Angeic. 

 Chcm., 20 (1907), No. 38, p. 1637; abs. in Vhem. Zentbl, 1907, II, No. 22, pp. 

 1811, 1812). — The successful use of basic calcium nitrate as a flux in deter- 

 mining sulphur in plant substances is explained. The material is shown to 

 have decided advantages for this purpose. 



Determination of small quantities of lead in water, Klut (Abs. in Ann. 

 Chini. AiKiUjt., 12 {1907) No. 11, p. .'i52). — In the method here described the lead 

 is precii)itated from 4 to 5 liters of water by adding 25 cc. of acetic acid, I">00 cc. 

 of a solution of sodium monosulphid (S gm.), and 100 gm. of sodium nitrate, 

 shaking the solution with 2 gm. of short asbestos fibers to absorb the sulphid, 

 collecting on an asbestos filter, and converting the sulphid to sulphate by treat- 

 ing with peroxid of hydrogen and a little nitric acid. The sulphate is dis- 

 solved in hot sodium acetate solution (1:4) and converted into oxid by treat- 

 ment with bromin water. The addition of a solution of i)otassiuni iodid, 

 sodium acetate, and acetic acid results in a separation of iodin, which is 

 titrated with sodium hyposulphite and thus affords a measure of the lead 

 present, 25.3.7 parts of iodin corresponding to 200 parts of lead. 



Detection of lead in potable water, M. R. Moffatt and H. S. Spiro (Chem. 

 Ztg., 31 (1907), No. 31, p. 639; abs. in Ann. Chim. Analyt., 12 (1907), No. 11, 

 p. Ji52). — The method described is based upon the blue coloration \yhich lead 

 salts give with hematein. 



Practical methods of calculating and stating' the results of technical meth- 

 ods of analysis and purification of water, F. Hundeshagen (Ztschr. Offenth 

 Chcm., 13 (1907), No. 23, pp. 457-480).— The subject is gone into in detail. 



Soil analysis, J. C. Brunnich (Ann. Rpt. Dcpt. Agr. and tStocIc [Queensland], 

 1906-7, pp. 70-72). — A series of analyses of soil of plats used in fertilizer ex- 

 periments with pineapples is reported. In these analyses " particular attention 

 was paid to proposed modern methods of determining the available plant foods, 

 not only with the 1 per cent citric-acid solution, but also with water saturated 

 with carbonic-acid gas. At the same time different methods of mechanical 

 analyses were tried, and amongst others the sieve-sediment method adopted by 

 the chemical committee of the Agricultural Education Association [E. S. R., IS, 

 I). 114], . . . From the results obtained, this method does not seem to offer any 

 advantages over SchTme's elutriation, usually employed in our laboratory, 

 although it dift'ei'entiates the ' Klay ' into more classes of finer pai'ticles." 



The analyses show the soils to be of rather poor quality but fairly rich in 

 phosphoric acid. The conclusion is drawn that chemical analysis was not a 

 very sure guide in this case to the fertilizer requirements of the soil. 



[Work in the sugar laboratory of the experiment station of Peru], T. 1'. 

 Sedgwick (Bol. Min. Fomcnto [Peru], 5 (1907), No. 9, pp. 3-12; Mem. Estac. 

 E.ppt. ji Lab. Vai'ia A~ttcar, 1900-7, pp. 5-1 'i). — A number of analyses of guanos 

 and soils of the region are reported. Methods of determining volatile matter 

 and soluI)ility in citric acid of soils are described. 



On the determination of the zeolitic silica in soils, A. Skikov (Zhur. Opuitn. 

 Agroti. [liiiss. .lour. E.rpt. Landw.], 8 (1907), No. '/. pp. 413-.'il5). — The author 



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