710 EXPEMMENT STATION RECORD. [Vol. 37 



saudy soil from Florida. Benzoic acid was also Isolated from this soil, but in 

 a much smaller quantity. 



Parahydroxybenzoic acid was isolated l)y the extraction of 23 kg. of soil with 

 about 75 liters of an aqueous 2 per cent solution of sodium hydroxid at room 

 temperature for 24 hours. The extract was acidified slightly with sulphuric 

 acid and filtered. The acid filtrate was extracted with ether, the ether extract 

 concentrated to a volume of about 200 cc, and then treated with a concen- 

 trated solution of sodium bisulphite to remove aldehydes, etc. The bisulphite 

 solution was drawn off and extracted several times with fresh ether, and the 

 ether extracts combined and slowly evaporated on the surface of a small 

 volume of warm water. The water solution was heated to boiling and filtered 

 while hot to remove any insoluble oily residue. A crystalline compound sepa- 

 rated from the cold concentrated aqueous solution. This was purified by ro 

 peated crystallizations from water, but the product thus obtained persistentl.v 

 retained a slight tinge of color which was removed only after many crystalliza- 

 tions and boiling with a small quantity of purified bone black. Much of the 

 material was lost in this procedure. The aqueous solution was finally .subjected 

 to steam distillation to remove benzoic acid and other volatile substances which 

 might be present. The solution in the distilling flask was evaporated to dry- 

 ness and the residue extractetl with chloroform to remove final traces of 

 ^benzoic acid. The substance was finally recrystallized from water. 



The confirmatory tests of the acids are described and the significance of their 

 presence in the soil di.scussed. 



Studies on the seed of Spartium junceum, M. Raffo {Ann. Chini. App' 

 [Home], 7 (7.9/7), No. 5-8, pp. 157-I6.fi).— The seed examined was found to con 

 tain a lipolytic cnzym having but slight action in an acid medium, but :i 

 marked action in the presence of sodium carbonate. 



A yield of about 10 per cent of a green-colored oil with an aromatic odor wji^ 

 obtained from the seeds. The following constants were determined for the oil 

 Specific gravity at 15* C, 0.9403; refractive index at 25', 73.5; acid value, 9.1: 

 saponification value, 198.6; iodin value, 134; llehner value, S9.So ; and Ileichert 

 Meissl value, 0.44. The fatly acids obtained from the oil yielded the followin.-r 

 constants: Specific gravity at 17°, 0.9208; molting point, 26.0-27°; solidifyin;^ 

 point, 21.3'\ The oil is classed with the group of seniidrying oils. 



Occurrence of raffinose in the seed of the jute plant (Corchorus capsularis), 

 H. E. Annett {Biochcm. Jour.. 11 (1917), No. 1, pp. 1-6). — The author report ; 

 the isolation of raffinose from the seed of the jute plant. The seed examined 

 (■ontaine<l about 2.25 per cent of the .sugar. The crude raffinose was obtained 

 by precipitating an alcoholic extract of the seed (after previous extraction with 

 ether and petrol) with ether. The impure material so obtained was recrystal- 

 lized from 80 per cent alcohol, rosettes of white needles depositing In several 

 days. 



The confirmation tests are described in detail. 



The chemisti-y of wood. — III, Mannan content of the gymnosperms, A. W. 

 ScHOKGER (Jour. I)i<Iu.9. and Engin. Chcm., 9 (1917), No. S, pp. 7.^8-750, fig. 1: 

 Jour. Forestry, 15 (1917), No. 2, pp. 197-202. fig. /).— Continuing the study pn- 

 viously noted (E. S. R., 37, p. 502), the author examined 22 different species 

 of gymnosperms and 6 of angiosperms for mannan and found it present i. 

 appreciable quantities in all of the conifers, but absent in the hardwoo<l>. 

 The sapwood was generally found to contain larger amounts of mannan than 

 the heartwood. The content was found to decrease from the base upward 

 but was uniform throughout tlie heartwood in a radial direction. 



