1919] AGRICULTURAL CHEMISTRY — AGROTECHNY. 17 



of nitrogen, calcium, potassium, and phosphorus which are in water-soluble 

 form and are an advantage to the fertilizer. The carbon formed from the sugar 

 in the concentration of the acid is also considered to be of advantage In that 

 it tends to keep the mass granular and porous. 



The preparation of xylose from corncobs, C. S. Hudson and T. S. Haudi.no 

 (Jour. Amer. Chem. Soc., 40 (1918), No. 10, pp. 1601, 1602).— A method for pre- 

 paring xylose from corncobs is described which is similar to the method pre- 

 viously noted (E. S. R., 37, p. 410) for preparing xylose from cottonseed hulls. 

 The corncobs are said to be a better source of xylose in that the yield (about 

 12 per cent) is higher and the solutions throughout the course of preparation are 

 less colored. 



The preparation of several useful substances from corncobs, F. B. LaFokge 

 and C. S. Hudson (Jour. Indus, and Engin. Chem., 10 (1918), No. 11, pp. 925- 

 927). — Methods are described for the preparation from corncobs of adhesive 

 gum, xylose (noted above), acetic acid, and glucose. The yields of the various 

 products constitute the following percentages of the weight of the dry corncobs : 

 Adhesive gum 30, crystalline xylose 5, acetic acid 2.5 to 3, and crystalline 

 glucose 37. 



The authors believe that these methods of utilizing corncobs may eventually 

 render them a valuable source of raw material for manufacturing. 



Wood waste as a source of ethyl alcohol, G. H. Tomlinson (Jour. Indus, and 

 Engin. Chem., 10 (1918), No. 10, pp. 859-S61 ; abs. in Chem. Abs., 12 (1918), No. 

 22, p. 2437). — Some of the problems involved in the commercial utilization 

 of wood waste as a source of ethyl alcohol are discussed and suggestions given 

 for extending the scope of the industry. On the basis of estimates at a manu- 

 facturing plant, the author states that every ton of wood waste is capable of 

 yielding over 30 gal. of wood molasses, suitable for alcohol production, without 

 disturbing existing methods of operation, and that, allowing 3 cts. per gallon 

 profit on the molasses, this would represent an additional profit of almost 

 $2 per 1,000 ft. of lumber. 



Factory investigation on the manufacture of tomato pulp and paste, B. J. 

 Howard (Conner, 47 (1918), Nos. 11, pp. 36. 88, 40, 42; 12, pp. 34, 36, 88, 40, 

 figs. 2). — This is a report of studies at the Bureau of Chemistry of the U. S. 

 Department of Agriculture of the influence of various technical processes 

 on the character of tomato pulp and paste, including the influence of tempera- 

 ture on the color and flavor of the product, relation of temperature of process- 

 ing and length of heating to the keeping power of the product, the rate of heat 

 penetration, occurrence of copper in the paste, comparison of open kettle and 

 vacuum pan products, efficiency tests on various outfits, and laboratory tests 

 on the influence of size of mesh of sieve used on the consistency of the product 



Drying and serving fruits and vegetables in the home, C. C. Vincent and 

 Jessie M. Hoover (Idaho Sta. Bui. 110 (1918), pp. 28, figs. 17).— This bulletin 

 contains reports of investigations in regard to the successful drying of fruits 

 and vegetables, with particular reference to conditions in Idaho. These in- 

 clude a study of the relative merits of sun drying and drying by means of 

 cookstove, hot-air, and ste;un evaporators as determined by local conditions, by 

 the time and temperature required to evaporate different products, and by the 

 moisture content of the dried product. 



A homemade sun drier of pyramidal form is described, three sides of which 

 are of glass. The air enters through small holes at the base, passes up through 

 a perforated frame of wooden slats containing the food to be dried, and together 

 with the moisture from the evaporating fruit, passes out through a 1-in. hole in 

 the apex. If placed in the sun the temperature in the drier can be maintained 



