1917] AGEICtTLTURAL CHEMISTRY AGEOTECHNY. 803 



first of these papers, the author concludes that each closely related group of 

 plants develops a distinct and characteristic oil content which is peculiar to 

 every species of a given genus. The results are considered to be significant not 

 only for the systematic botanist, since they render a physiological criterion for 

 natural classification of higher and lower forms, but also have a practical value 

 in regard to the propagation and culture for industrial purposes of plants which 

 have been neglected in the past. 



It is noted in the case of Spergtda arvensis that the seed oil undergoes a 

 marked physiological and chemical change during the storage period, forming a 

 coating impermeable to water and so retarding germination. 



Analytical data of certain yeasts, Chlorophycese, Gymnospermse, and several 

 species of Juglans and Lanum are submitted. 



In work reported in the second paper he found that the composition of the 

 walnut oils from different localities of Europe and Asia remained constant. 

 Sunflower seed collected in two different Provinces, Kharkof and Voronezh, 

 showed no essential difference. The oil of Hyoscyamus niger was found to be 

 formed gradually, and the oil of the immature seeds differed from that of the 

 ripe seeds. 



Chemical composition of certain ethereal oils of Russian origin, G. V. 

 PiGULEvsKii (Soobshch. Bmro Chastn. Rast. [Petrograd], S (1916), No. S, pp. 

 S-16). — The oils were analyzed of R^ita graveolens, Rosmarinus officinalis, 

 Ocymum basilicum, Laurus nobilis, Hyssopus officinalis. Salvia grandi flora, and 

 Lavandula spica, and the data submitted. It was found that the Crimean 

 ethereal oils do not differ essentially from the imported oils. It is indicated that 

 the vast natural resources and favorable climatic conditions of Russia will 

 greatly stimulate the development of the oil industry in that country. 



Some new oil seeds derived from American palms, G. T. Bkay and F. L. 

 Elliott (Analyst, 41 (1916), No. 487, pp. 298-502.)— Tabulated analytical data 

 of the composition of the kernels as regards moisture and oil content and the 

 physical and chemical constants of the oils obtained from a number of seeds 

 of South American and West Indian palms are submitted. The seeds were, 

 on the whole, found to be as rich as or richer than those of ordinary West 

 African palms. 



Notes on the oils obtained and the press cake of the kernels are Included. 



Plum oil and its relation to other oils of the g'enus Prunus, S. L. Ivanov 

 (Snobslich. Bmro Chastn. Rast. [Petrograd], 2 (1915), No. 7. pp. 46-55). — The 

 author finds no essential difference in the composition of the oils from various 

 species of Prunus. The simplest oil of this genus is considered to be that of 

 the domestic plum (Prunus domestica). Apricot seeds give at least 25 per 

 cent of oil. 



Methods used in the analyses are described in detail. 



Physiolog'ical characters of plants and botanical families. — I, Malvaceae. — 

 Oil and fiber, S. L. Ivanov and N. F. Kokotkina (Soobshch. Bmro Chastn. 

 Rast. [Petrograd], 2 (1915), No. 7, pp. S-24).— The results of the investigation 

 reported are as follows: 



There are many valuable species of Malvaceae which as yet are not used 

 commercially, such as Lavatera thuringiaca, Malva, and other fiber species. The 

 oils of the 30 species of Malvaceae which were studied do not differ essentially 

 from cottonseed oil. The oils of the Malvaceae and those of the nearest forms 

 of the Tiliaceae are both characterized by Halphen's reaction, which indicates 

 the presence of a peculiar unsaturated acid in these groups. The presence and 

 the formation of this acid unites these two families as their common physio- 

 logical character. 



