EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



Vol. 37. Abstract Number. No. 9. 



RECENT WORK IN AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE. 



AGRICULTURAL CHEMISTRY— AGROTECHNY. 



Principles of agricultural chemistry, G. S. Fbaps (Easton, Pa.: The Chemi- 

 cal Publishing Co., 1917, 2. ed., pp. 501, figs. 94)- — This is the second edition of 

 the work previout?ly noted (E. S. R., 30, p. 10). A number of additions and 

 changes have been made which include some of the recent advances in the 

 subject, especially with reference to soil organisms, nutritive value of protein, 

 and productive value of feeds. 



An introduction to the chemistry of plant products, P. Haas and T. G. 

 Hill (London and, New York: Longmans, Green & Co., 1917, 2. ed., pp. XII-\- 

 411, figs 5). — This is the second edition of the woi*k previously noted (E. S. R., 

 31, p. 803). 



Due to the great advances made in the chemistry of plant pigments since the 

 issue of the first edition, this section has been entirely rewritten. A few other 

 minor additions and changes have been made and further references to the 

 literature added. 



The occurrence of mannite in silage and its possible utilization in the 

 manufacture of explosives, A. W. Dox and G. P. Plaisance {Science, n. ser., 

 46 {1917), No. 1182, pp. 192, iPS).— Analytical data obtained by the authors at 

 the Iowa Experiment Station in the course of investigations on the fermenta- 

 tion processes that occur immediately after the ensiling of corn and the chemi- 

 cal products resulting therefrom show the presence of considerable amounts 

 of mannite in various kinds of silage. The highest percentages of mannite 

 were found in sunflower silage, cane silage, and an experimental corn silage to 

 which sucrose had been added. It is indicated that the mother substance of 

 the mannite is apparently sucrose or, more specifically, its fructose moiety. 

 The presence of the mannite was shown not to be a local phenomenon, since 

 the samples of silage examined were obtained from several different States. 

 Corn and cowpea silage, sweet clover silage, and ensiled corn stover plus 

 glucose contained no mannite. 



A method of preparing quantities of mannite without special regard to 

 quantitative yields and the use of its nitration product in the manufacture of 

 explosives are noted. 



See also a previous note by Manns (E. S. R., 1, p. 200). 



The occurrence and significance of mannitol in silage, A. W. Dox and G. P. 

 Plaisance {Jour. Amer. Chem. Soc, 39 {1917), No. 9, pp. 2078-2087).— T\i\s is 

 a more detailed account of the material noted above. 



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