966 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



Some ester-like compounds of -wrood gum and xylose, R. Bader (Chevi, Ztg., 

 19 {1S95), No. 4, pp. 55, 56; No. 5, pp. 78, 79). 



Chemistry of the albuminoids, L. Lilrnfeld (Dm Bois-Rcymond's Arch. Anut. u,nd 

 Fhy.sioL, 1804, pp. 555-558; abs. in Chem. Centbl., 1895, I, No. 4, p. 221). 



Asaprol, a reagent for albumen, albumose, pepton, and pepsin^ Riegijir {AhB. 

 w Chem. Ztg., 9 {1895), No. 28; Reperi., p. 101). 



The coagulation of albuminoids by mechanical means, W. Ramsdex {Du Bois- 

 Beymoud's Arch. Anat. und I'hysiol., 1894, j^p. 517-534; abs. in Chem. Centbl., 1895, /, 

 No. 4, p. 221). 



Action of oxalic acid on inulin, G. Dull and C. J. Lintner {Chem. Ztg., 19 {1895), 

 No. 9, p. 166; No. 11, pp. 216, 217). 



Action of diastase on reserve cellulose, J. Gruss {Abs. in Chem. Centbl., 1895, 1, 

 No. 15, p. 787). 



The solubility of sugar in mixtures of alcohol and -water, O. Schrefeld {Ztschr. 

 Ver. Rubenz. hid., 1894, pp. 970-973 ; abs. in Chem. Centbl., 1SD5, I, No. 1, p. 69). 



The determination of casein in cover's milk, L. L. Van Slyke {New York State 

 Sta. Rpt. 1893, pp. 487-496). — This paper was read before the Association of Official 

 Agricultural Chemists iu 1893, aud published in full iu the proceedings for that year 

 (U. S. Dept. Agr., Div. of Chem. Bui. 38, pp. 109-116), and in Jour. Amer. Chem. 

 Soc, 15 {1893), No. 11, pp. 635-645. 



Rum analyses, P. H. Greg {Bid. Bot. Dept. Jamaica, 2 {1895), No. 3, pp. 25-31). 



BOTANY. 



Bacteria in agriculture, A. Caron {Landw. Vers. Stat., 45 {1S95), 

 No. 5 and 6, pp. 401-418). — The author briefly reviews some of the more 

 recent literature relating to the assimilation of nitrogen by the micro- 

 organisms in the soil. 



An estimation was made of the abundance of bacteria in various soils 

 that had been cropped with oats, barley, and rye following wheat, rye, 

 and wheat. There were found 1.5, 2.2, and 2.7 million bacteria per cubic 

 centimeter in the three soils. It was also found that in black fallow, a 

 fallow on which grass had been allowed to spring up prior to plowing 

 under, the number of bacteria increases from spring until autumn, when 

 their maximum number is to be found. 



Investigations were conducted to ascertain the vertical distribution 

 of soil bacteria, and it was found that they decrease with the increased 

 depth of the soil from which they were taken, there being G million per 

 cubic centimeter at a depth of 20 cm. and only 1.5 million at a depth of 

 50 cm. in a field examined. 



Examinations were made of soil in which various crops, such as grain, 

 clover, potatoes, etc., had been grown, and it was found that where 

 grains were grown there was a decrease in the number of soil bacteria 

 as the season advanced, while there was a constant increase in the case 

 of the other crops. In this the author confirms the observations of 

 Berthelotand Winogradsky^ that grain crops do best when they follow 

 such crops as legumes, potatoes, etc., or fallow, not only on account of 

 the chemical and physical condition of the soil, but also on account of 

 the presence of greater numbers of soil bacteria, by the aid of which 

 greater amounts of nitrogen are supplied to the growing crop. 



> Compt. Rend., 116 (1893), p. 1385. 



