1918.] AGRICULTURAL CHEMISTRY AGROTECHNY. 715 



It Is recommended that power alcohol be denatured with 2 per cent of either 

 the fractions of coal-tar oil distillates obtained at a temperature of from 170 

 to 230° C. or with creosote oil. 



Actual state of our knowledge of microbiological retting. — Applications in 

 the study of retting of colonial textiles, F. Heim and Rulldcr (BuI. Off. 

 Colon. IFrancc], 10 (1917), No. 118-120, pp. S2i-639).— This is a review of the 

 literature on the subject of the mechanism of the retting of flax and hemp and 

 the organisms which are involved in the process, with a view to the establish- 

 ment of a series of experiments in regard to the retting of colonial textile fibers. 

 The authors suggest that, since the retting organisms in tropical countries are 

 probably different from those in European countries, it is logical to attempt to 

 isolate the organisms acting naturally upon the vegetable tissues in the Tropics 

 rather than to study the effects on these textile tissues of the microorganisms 

 involved in the retting of European fibers. 



Chemicals in use in the rubber industry and their applications, A. J. 

 Ultee {Arch. Uubbercult. Ncdcrland. Indie, 1 {1017), No. 5, pp. Jf03-412). — This 

 Is a general discussion of the various chemicals in use for coagulation, anti- 

 coagulation, bleaching, and disinfection. 



The chemical composition of Hevea latex, K. Goetee {Arch. Rubbercult. 

 Nederland. Indie, 1 {1917), No. 5, pp. 575-577) .—The following analysis of 

 Hevea latex is reported per liter of latex : Rubber after coagulation with acetic 

 acid, 370 gm. ; and serum, 29.1 gm. The composition of the serum was ash, 

 5.3 gm. ; protein, 3.4 gm. ; quebrachite, 14.5 gm. ; and sugar, 2.5 gm. 



Investigations in regard to the influence of protein hydrolysis products on 

 the velocity of vulcanization of rubber were conducted by treating 185 gm. of 

 rubber with 15 gm. of sulphur and 0.37 gm. of leucin and comparing the vulcani- 

 zation time with that of the same amounts of rubber and sulphur without the 

 leucin. The time of vulcanization with leucin was 105 minutes, and for the 

 control 115 minutes. The author suggests that possibly amyl amin, which at 

 high temperatures under the influence of carbonic acid breaks down into leucin, 

 is the substance which acts as a vulcanization accelerator. 



In regard to the possibility of manufacturing acetic acid on rubber es- 

 tates, P. E. Keuchenius (Arch. Rubbercult. Nederland. Indie, 1 {1917), No. 5, 

 pp. Jtl3-Itl7, fig. 1). — Investigations conducted by the Central Rubber Station, 

 Dutch East Indies, show that it is possible to manufacture acetic acid from 

 alcohol by fermentation which is cheaper than the present market price of 

 acetic acid, and which is satisfactory for coagulation of rubber. The simple 

 apparatus required for the fermentation is described. 



Home canning and curing of meats, M. Anna Hausee {N. J. Agr. Col. Ext. 

 Bui., 1 {1917), No. 15, pp. 11). — This publication gives general directions for 

 canning meat and poultry, for curing meat by drying and smoking, and for 

 utilizing the fat, scraps, and trimmings in various ways. 



The canning and preserving of vegetables and fruits, H. S. Elliot {Bien. 

 Rept. Dept. Agr. Fla., 14 {1915-16), pt. 2, pp. i//S-i62).— This is a compilation of 

 Information on the above subjects from numerous sources. It includes a classifi- 

 cation of the methods of food preservation, a definition of canning terms, useful 

 tables for the canner, general directions for preserves, jellies, and marmalades, 

 and special directions for bottling the juice of grapefruit. 



Canning chart, directions, and recipes, compiled by Dilla E. Wimple {Ann. 

 Rpt. So. Dak. Eort. Soc, 13 {1916), pp. 2S, 29). — A two-page chart is given 

 with explanations and suggestions for canning by the cold-pack method. Some 

 recipes are included and a bibliography of bulletins on canning is appended. 



How to utilize and preserve our fniits with the preeent scarcity of sugar, 

 A. Teueixe (Vie Agr. et Rurale, 7 {1917), No. 39, pp. 220-223). — The author has 



