RECENT WORK IN AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE. 



AGRICULTURAL CHEMISTRY— AGROTECHNY. 



Practical organic and biochemistry, R. H. A. Plimmer {London and New 

 York: Longmans, Green d Co., 1915, pp. XII+6S5, pi. 1, figs. 86).— This is a 

 practical laboratory guide of organic chemistry in its relation to biochemistry. 

 The scope of the volume has been extended over that of the author's earlier 

 work, new sections on organic chemistry and organic substances found in 

 plants having been added. 



A list of standard and special reagents is appended. 



The world of neglected dimensions, W. Ostwald {Die Welt der Vernach- 

 Idssigten Dimensionen. Dresden: Theodor Steinkopff, 1915, pp. X-\-219, pis. 6, 

 figs. 33). — This volume is the outcome of a series of lectures on colloid chemistry 

 delivered during the winter of 1913-14 in the United States and Canada. The 

 subjects discussed are (1) the fundamental phenomena of the colloid condition, 

 colloids as disperse systems, and the methods of preparing colloidal solutions ; 

 (2) colloidal systems; (3) changes in colloid condition; (4) the scientific 

 npplication of colloid chemistry; and (5) the technical and practical application 

 of colloid chemistry. An appendix and a complete subject index are included. 



Annual reports on the progress of chemistry for 1913—14, edited by J. C. 

 Cain and A. J. Gbeenaway {Ann. Rpts. Prog. Chem. [London}, 10 {1913), pp. 

 IX+300, fig. 1; 11 {1914), pp. VIII +303, figs. 9).— These reports deal with the 

 progress in general, physical, inorganic, organic, analytical, physiological, 

 agricultural, and mineralogicai chemistry, vegetable physiology, and radio- 

 activity. 



Beport of the agricultural chemist, J. C. Bbunnich {Ann. Rpt. Dept. Agr. 

 and Stock [Queensland], 1914-15, pp. 30-61). — This report contains a general 

 review of the routine and investigational work carried on during the year 1914- 

 15. 



The results of the soil, water, seed, wheat, and flour analyses are recorded 

 in tabular form, those of soils being also noted on page 20 of this issue. 



On the isolation and properties of tethelin, the growth-controlling prin- 

 ciple of the anterior lobe of the pituitary body, T. B. Rouektson {Jour. Biol. 

 Chem., 24 {1916), No. 3, pp. 409-421, pi. 1).— The substance which appears to 

 be the growth-controlling principle in the anterior lobe of the pituitary body 

 wns isolated by extraction with boiling alcohol, concentrating under reduced 

 pressure to incipient separation of solid material, and then precipitating by 

 anhydrous ether. The precipitate thus formed was washed several times with 

 a mixture of absolute alcohol and anhydrous ether and finally dried over sul- 

 plmric acid at a temperature of about 30 to 35° C. 



The material is soluble in water, ethyl alcohol, ethyl ether, chloroform, and 

 carbon tetrachlorid, but insoluble in an alcohol-ether mixture (1:1.5). It con- 

 tains 1.4 per cent of plK>sphorus, and 2.58 per cent of nitrogen as determined by 

 the Kjeldahl-Gunning-Arnold method. The P : N ratio is thus approximately 1 : 4, 

 two nitrogen atoms of which are present as amino groups and a third as an 

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