608 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



New contributions on the determination of fat in animal tissues and fluids, 

 J. Nerking (Arch. Physiol. [Pfluger), 73 (1S9S), No. 8-4, pp. 172-183).— The author 

 believes the only quantitative method for determining fat in meat to he digestion 

 with pepsin and hydrochloric acid and subsequent extraction with ether, as sug- 

 gested by Dormeyer (E. S. R., 1, p. 919). He proposes to simplify the extraction by 

 the use of a somewhat intricate apparatus, which he illustrates and describes. The 

 results of trials of the method on various kinds of meat, milk, etc., are reported. 



Contributions to the analysis of fat. Ill, The detection of cotton-seed oil in 

 lard, A. Bomer (Ztschr. Untersuch. Xahr. u. Genussmtl., 1 (1898), No. 8, pp. 532-552, 



PJ- 1). 



The use of benzal in determining the iodin number of fats and the volatile 

 portion of fatty acids, K. Farnsteiner {Ztschr. Untersuch. Nalir. u. Genussmtl., 1 

 (1S98), No. 8, pp. 529-532). 



Creatin and its separation, E. F. Ladd and P. B. Bottenfield (Amer. Chem. 

 Jour., 20 (1S98), No. 10, pp. S69-871). 



The quantitative estimation of sugar in meat and urine, E. Polexske (Arb. I\. 

 Gesundheitsamte, 14 (1898), pp. 149-152; abs. in Ztschr. Untersuch. Nahr. u. Genussmtl., 

 1 (1898), No. 2, pp. 782-784). — The percentage of sugar in a number of samples of meat 

 is reported, as well as the author's method of determining it. 



On the detection and localization of phosphorus in animal and vegetable 

 tissues, A. B. Macallum (rroc. Boy. Soc. [London], 43 (1S9S), No. 400, pp. 467-479). 



Simple method of water analysis, especially designed for the use of medical 

 officers of health, J. C. Thresh (London: J. $• A. Churchill, 1898, cd. 2 cnl., pp. 55). 



A new filter flask, R. Walther (Jour. Prakt. Chem., n. ser., 57 (1S9S), pp. 544, 545; 

 abs. in Jour. Chem. Soc. [London], 74 (1S9S), No. 432, II, p. 507, fig. 1). 



A thermostat for high or varying gas pressure, D. Bodine (Jour. Appl. Micros., 

 1 (1898), No. 11, pp. 193,194, fig. 1). — A simple and what is claimed to be a, very 

 efficient regulator is figured and described. It is claimed to be valuable where 

 natural gas is used as a fuel or where for any cause the gas supply fluctuates. 



BOTANY. 



Experiments on the production of alpine characters in plants 

 by the alternation of extreme temperatures, G. Bonnier (Gompt. 

 Rend, Acad. Sci. Paris, 127 (1898), No. G, pp. 307-312, fig. 1).— The 

 author reports experiments with a number of plants in which he has 

 attempted to produce alpine conditions by employing greatly reduced 

 temperatures. The perennial plants used in the experiments were 

 white clover, Teucrium scorodonia, and Senecio jacobcea. Among the 

 annual plants experimented with were vetches, oats, and barley. The 

 plan of the experiment was to grow these different plants in different 

 exposures, the first being placed in a house, the glass front of which 

 faced north and received only diffused light. The walls of this house 

 were double and were filled twice a day with ice. In this way the tem- 

 perature is kept at an average of 7° 0. and the humidity about 90 per 

 cent. The second lot of plants were exposed to the normal and variable 

 conditions in the neighborhood, under which the temperature ranged 

 from 15 to 35° and the humidity from 64 to 91 per cent. The third lot 

 of plants were placed alternately in the ice house during the night and 

 in the open during the day. These plants therefore had an alternation 

 of temperature from 4 to 35°. The soil in the pots was maintained at 

 the same degree of saturation as the others. The fourth lot of plants 



