RECENT WORK IN AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE. 



AGEICTTLTURAL CHEMISTRY— AGROTECHNY. 



Isolation of cyanuric acid from soil, L. E. Wise and E. H. Waltebs (17. S. 

 Dept. Agr., Jour. Agr. Research, 10 (1917), No. 2, pp. 85-92, pL 1).— The authors 

 note the isolation of a nitrogenous compound from an Indiana soil whose 

 identitj' with cyanuric acid prepared by heating urea with zinc chlorld was 

 established. The largest amount of the acid Isolated from any of several lots 

 of 23 kg. of the Indiana soil was about 0.15 gm. Cyanuric acid was also 

 isolated from a Maine soil, 46 kg. of soil yielding about 0.165 gm. of acid ; a 

 Florida soil, yielding approximately 0.04 gm. of acid from 23 kg. of soil ; and a 

 Texas soil, which yielded about 0.04 gm. from 46 kg. of soil. 



The procedure used in the isolation of the acid from the soil samples and 

 the identification tests are described in detail. The possibility of the formation 

 of cyanuric acid in the soil by the decomposition of nucleoprotein or purin 

 bases, some of which have been previously Isolated, and Its possible derivation 

 from urea are suggested. 



Analysis of ragweed pollen, F. W. Heyl (Jour. Amcr. Chcm. Soc, S9 (1917), 

 No. 7, pp. UflO-llfTS). — The following percentage composition is reported for 

 the pollen of the ragweed (Amhrtma arteinisiJoUa) : Alcohol-soluble material, 

 42.9 ; moisture, 5.3 ; crude fiber, 12.2 ; pentosans, 7.3 ; ash, 5.4 ; dextrin, 2.1 ; and 

 protein, 24.4. Of the protein about 7.5 per cent could not be extracted, while 

 6.75 per cent was extracted with dilute alkali and only about 5 per cent with 

 10 per cent salt solution. The albumin and globulin fractions thus appear to be 

 small. The presence of proteoses is Indicated. The alcoholic extract was Tound 

 to have tlie following percentage composition: Fat, 10.8; lecithin, 0.75; ether- 

 soluble (but not soluble In llgroln), 1.75; sucrose, 0.4; glucose, 1.6; resin, 17.4; 

 and a nitrogenous base. 



Some ophthalmic tests obtained In the case of two hay-fever subjects are 

 noted. 



The pungent principles of ginger. — I, A new ketone, zdn^berone, occurring 

 in ginger, H. Nomura (Set. Rpts. Tohoku Imp. Univ., ser. 1, 6 {1917), No. 1, pp. 

 41-52). — The author notes the Isolation from ginger of a ketone, ziugiberone, 

 having the composition CuHi«0». The experimental procedures used in this 

 isolation and the determination of its chemical constitution are described in 

 detail. 



Gingerol and paradol, B. K. Nelson (Jour. Amer. CJiem. Soc, S9 (1917), No. 

 7, pp. 1^66-1 J,69). 



Microorganisms and heat production in silage fermentation, O. W. Hunter 

 (U. S. Dept. Agr., Jour. Agr. Research, 10 (1917), No. 2, pp. 75-8S. figs. 10).— 

 In the study reported by the author at the Kansas Experiment Station an 

 endeavor was made to determine the exact cause of heat production in silage 

 fermentation. Alfalfa, corn, cane, and Kafir corn forage, siloed under labora- 

 tory conditions, were used for silage production. Heat production was observed 

 In normal fermenting forage, forage treated \vith a weak antiseptic, forage 

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