AGBICULTUKAL CHEMISTRY AGROTECHNT. 109 



The so-called algin might be employed as a size for paper and fabrics, but 

 whether it is economically feasible is questionable. Its physical properties 

 are not well adapted for clarifying wines. As leached kelp only has a small 

 amount of cellulose its use for paper making is questionable, especially in view 

 cf the fact that redwood wastes and other wastes of much greater possibilities 

 are still to be utilized. 



Destructive distillation of kelp side by side with Douglas fir shavings and 

 oak sawdust showed " that the distillates from the kelp, judged by their content 

 of acetic acid and alcohol, had a value of only one-fifth to one-tenth that of 

 the oak and fir distillates, a value so slight as to preclude any profitable re- 

 covery of the products. The yields for oak and fir approximate those obtained 

 in larger experiments on similar materials, and it is very probable, therefore, 

 that the general comparisons with kelp would hold even in distillations on a 

 commercial scale. The distillates obtained from the kelp were watery in 

 appearance and had a very slightly acid reaction to litmus, although they 

 contained considerable amounts of basic substances. By the Kjeldahl method 

 3.2 gm. of nitrogen was found in the total distillate from 1 kg. of dried kelp. 

 The tar oils obtained with the distillate floated on the surface, having a 

 specific gravity of 0.984. Their percentage varies from 4 to 7 on the basis 

 of the dry kelp. The gases evolved from the kelp difi'er from those of the oak 

 and fir in not being combustible during any of the earlier stages of distilla- 

 tion. The charcoal residue in the retort was soft and of dull-gray color. 

 Leaching experiments indicated that most of the potash may be recovered 

 from the char as a high-grade product." 



A bibliography of cited literature is appended. 



The theory of alkalimetrlcal and acidimetrical titrations, N. Bjebbum 

 {Samml. Chem. u. Chem. Tech. Vortrdge, 21 (1914), No. 1-3, pp. IV-j-128, figs. 

 11). — This book contains material given in a course of lectures at the Uni- 

 versity of Copenhagen in the spring of 1913. The book is divided into three 

 sections. The first part deals with the present views regarding acid and basic 

 reaction, the strength of acids and bases, and the hydrolysis of salts. The 

 second part considers the law of indicators with special regard to volumetric 

 analysis. The third part deals with the principles of titration. 



A comparison of the Gunning-copper method with the Kjeldahl-Gunning- 

 Arnold method for the determination of nitrogen, O. F. Jensen {Jour. Indus, 

 and Engin. Chem.. 7 ( 1915). Xo. 1, pp. 38, 39). — A quantitative yield of ammonia 

 was obtained more quickly in dried blood by the Kjeldahl-Gunning-Arnold 

 method than with the Gunning-copper method. In the case of other substances 

 studied, which included bone meal, casein, egg albumen (dried), fish scrap, 

 animal tankage, beef scrap, castor-bean pomace, cotton-seed meal, etc., a diges- 

 tion of one and a half hours was equally efficacious for either of the methods. 

 " The Gunning-copper method possesses advantages in manipulation which makes 

 it preferable to the Kjeldahl-Gunning-Arnold method, especially where a large 

 number of determinations are to be made." 



Cleaning soils for microscopic examination, W. H. Fey and J. A. Cullen 

 (Jour. Indus, and Engin. Chem., 7 {1915), No. 1, pp. 40, 41). — For cleaning 

 soils for microscopical mineral work a 10 per cent solution of oxalic acid is 

 recommended. " In about 30 minutes it removes the iron stains satisfactorily. 

 Tests upon various soil minerals showed that, with the exception of apatite, it 

 did not affect them appreciably ; and in the case of apatite, although there is 

 undoubtedly some effect, it leaves that mineral in a determinable state. Of 



