RECENT WORK IN AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE. 



CHEMISTRY. 



Report of the professor of chemistry, K. Harcourt (Chitario A(jr. Col. and 

 Expt. Farm Rpt. lUOl, }>p. 33-42)- — Anah'ses are here reported of soap, sorghum 

 silage, several grains used as poultry foods, and of drippings from washed and 

 unwashed curds made to determine the loss of casein due to washing. The loss 

 before salting was greater in the case of washed curd, but after salting was greater in 

 the case of curd which had not Ijeen washed. The total loss of casein was increased 

 by washing. Work with sugar beets is noted elsewhere. 



Miscellaneous chemical analyses, A. D. Selby and J. W. Ames ( O/r/o Sta. Bui. 

 1..'7, ])]>. 175-218). — Analyses of various materials made by the chemical department 

 during the years 1892-1901 are reported. These include corn and corn products, 

 clover and timothy hay, wheat and wheat products, strawVjerries, l)lackl)errie8, 

 raspberries, currants, goose) )erries, cherries, grapes, lead arsenate, Paris green, crude 

 petroleum, dried blood, nitrate of soda, sulphate of ammonia, boneblack, phosphatic 

 slag, acid phosphate, phosphate rock, muriate of potash, tankage, mixed fertilizers, 

 corncob ashes, wood and coal ashes, jadoo fiber, liquid manure, limestones, and 

 mineral waters. Some of the analyses have previously been reported (E. S. R., 11, 

 pp. 142, 1046). Data concerning the average composition of many of the materials 

 are collated from publications of other stations. 



Treatise on agricultural chemistry {Aim. Agron., 27 {1901), No. 12^ pp. 594, 

 595 ; Rer. Sri., 4. .sec, 17 (1902), Xo. 2, pp. 51-53). — Notes on the second edition of 

 Deherain's well-known Traite de Chimie Afjricolc, which was presented to the French 

 Academy December 9, 1901. 



A plan for cooperating in the study of available plant food, C. C. Moore 

 ( U. S. Dept. Agr., Bureau of Cheinislry Circ. 9, pp. S, Jigs. 3). — A plan for the coopera- 

 tive study oi the soil of four fiftieth-acre plats bearing, respectively, oats, spring 

 barley, spring rye, and spring wheat. The methods of sampling and analysis are 

 described in detail. The proposed method of determining available phosphoric acid 

 and potash given in tliis circular has already been noted (E. S. R., 13, p. 927). 



Oi the determination of citrate-insoluble phosphoric acid, C. D. H.\rris 

 {Jour. Amer. Chem. Sue, 24 {1902), No. 1, j)p. 2.5-27). — An improved method of fil- 

 tering the citrate solution is described as follows: Place in the bottom of a carbon 

 filter "a tightly fitting perforated porcelain disk, to which is attached a small wire 

 that extends down beyond the small end of the carbon filter. A rubber stopper is 

 then fitted tightly in a pressure bottle and the carbon filter passed through it. A 

 layer of asbestos is placed on the disk in the carbon filter and by the aid of pressure 

 this gave entire satisfaction. By this method it took only from 30 to 40 minutes to 

 filter and wash the residue." To save time in precipitation the author recommends 

 the following procedure: "Just before adding the molybdic solution, to precipitate 

 the phosphoric acid, neutralize the excess of acid with ammonia, and then add 10 or 



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