RECENT WORK IN AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE. 



CHEMISTRY. 



The chemistry of proteids, O. Cohnheim (Chemie der Eiweisskorper. Bruns- 

 wick: Friedrich Vieweg & Son, 1904, 2. ed., pp. XII-\-S15). — The present edition, the 

 author states, lias been rewritten and revised, a large amount of new material being 

 added. In its present form it constitutes a summary of available data regarding the 

 chemistry, properties, and structure of proteid bodies, including albumoses and pep- 

 tones, proteid salts, halogen derivatives and similar bodies, true albumins, proteids, 

 and albuminoids. The numerous references cited throughout the volume constitute 

 an extended bibliography of the subject. A copious index is provided. 



The chemistry of wheat gluten, (J. <J. Nasmitii ( Trans. Canad. Inst., 7 (1904), 

 III, No. 15, pp. 497-516). — Practically the same as a paper abstracted from another 

 source (E. S. R., 15, p. 748). 



Concerning isocreatin and its identity with creatin, E. Poulsson (Arch. 

 Exper. Path. u. Pharmakol, 51 (1904), No. 2-3, pp. 227-238; abs. in Zentbl. Physiol, 

 18 (1904), No. 13, p. 377 ).— According to the author the yellow material which has 

 been called isocreatin is a mixture of creatin with a yellow coloring matter, being 

 identical with creatin in all of its reactions when freed from the coloring matter. 



Concerning the estimation of nuclein bases in beet juice, H. W. Bresler 

 (Ztschr. Physiol. Chem., 41 (1904), No. 6, pp. 535-541). — According to the author's 

 investigations the nitrogen of beet juice was made up of 0.29 per cent heteroxanthin, 

 1.58 per cent guanin, 0.81 per cent xanthin, 0.61 per cent adenin, 0.91 per cent hypo- 

 xanthin, and 0.69 per cent carnin nitrogen. The total nitrogen present was 0.2345 

 gm. per liter. 



Methods suitable for the preparation of organic bases from plant juices 

 and plant extracts, E. Schulze (Landw. Vers. Stat., 59 (1904), No. 5-0, pp. 344- 

 354). — Methods and reagents are described which the author has found valuable in 

 studying the organic bases of plants. 



Gravimetric determination of phosphoric acid, J. Sebelien (Pharmacia, 1904, 

 No. 7, ]>/>. 1-10). — A discussion of the different gravimetric methods for the determi- 

 nation of phosphoric acid, with special reference to the methods proposed by Woy 

 (E. S. R., 9, p. 321) and von Lorenz (E. S. R., 13, p. 14), both of which the author 

 finds promising, especially the former method. — v. w. woll. 



Estimation of potassium, 1). Sidersky (Ann. ('him. AnalyL, 9 (1904), pp. 

 207-209; abs. in Jour. Chem. Hoc [Loudon], 86 (1904), No. 502, 11, p. 589). — For 

 technical purposes Fresenius's method is recommended, although it is claimed that 

 Schloesing's perchlorate method also gives trustworthy results. It is stated that in 

 the first method 1 gm. of the platinum double salt represents 0.3056 gm. of potassium 

 chlorid, in the second 1 gm. of perchlorate represents 0.5382 gm. of potassium chlorid. 



The detection of corn meal in bread, D. Ottolenghi ('Ztschr. Untersutih. Nahr. 

 a. Genussmtl., 8 (1904), No. 3, pp. 189-193). — According to the author the most sat- 

 isfactory method of detecting corn meal in bread is by means of tests for maisin, a 



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