RECENT WORK IN AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE. 



AGEICTJLTTJRAL CHEMISTRY— AGROTECHNY. 



Chlorophyll, G. Cusmano {Ann. Chim. Appl. [Rome}, 5 {1916), No. S-4, pp. 

 97-117, pi. 1, fig. 1). — This is a general review of the work on chlorophyll. The 

 subject is discussed under the following divisions : The action of alkali and 

 acid on chlorophyll ; the isolation of chlorophyll and separation into its two 

 constituents ; the carotinoids ; comparison of the pigments of the leaves ; and 

 the structure of chloi'ophyll. A table showing the amounts of the various 

 green and yellow coloring substances of the leaves and also one showing the 

 decomposition products and derivatives of chlorophyll are submitted. 



Bean oil (oil of Phaseolus vulgaris), F. Witke {Chem. Ztg., 40 {1916), No. 

 19-20, pp. 147, 148). — The following constants for an oil extracted by benzene 

 from the air-dried material are submitted : Yield, 2 per cent ; acid value, 17.2 ; 

 saponification value, 179.2 ; ester value, 162 ; iodin value, 97.9 ; Hehner value, 

 78.2; unsaponifiable matter, 5.6 per cent; phosphorus, 0.98 per cent; lecithin, 

 25.6 per cent ; and refractive index at 25° C, 1.4865. The fatty acids were 

 isolated in the usual manner and saelded the following constants : Saponifica- 

 tion value, 193.1 ; iodin value, 124.6 ; acetyl value, 52.7 ; acetyl acid value, 175.4 ; 

 acetyl saponification value, 228.1 ; and refractive index at 38°, 1.4691. 



The disagreement in the results obtained compared with those previously re- 

 ported is briefly discussed. 



The fatty oil from the seed of Styrax japonica, H. Okada {Yakugaku- 

 zasshi {Jour. Pharm. 80c. Japan), No. 4OO {1915), pp. 657-665). — The author 

 obtained a yield of 45 per cent of a greenish-yellow oil with a red fluorescence 

 from the cold-pressed seed. 



The following constants were obtained for the oil : Acid value, 1.1 ; saponifi- 

 cation value, 190.5 ; Hehner value, 94.7 per cent. The solid acids consisted of 

 an equal mixture of stearic and palmitic acids, while the liquid acids consisted 

 of oleic and linoleic acids. The unsaponifiable substance crystallized in glisten- 

 ing needles, with a melting point of 116° C. 



The g'alactan of Larix occlden talis, A. W. Schoegee and D. F. Smith {Jour. 

 Iiulus. and Engin. Chem., 8 {1916), No. 6, pp. 494-499). — The authors have found 

 that the wood of the western larch {L. occidentalis) contains approximately 

 10 per cent of a galactan not previously described. The galactan has been 

 named e-galactan. On hydrolysis it yields only galactose. The determina- 

 tion of galactans by oxidation to mucic acid with nitric acid according to the 

 method of ToUens is deemed unreliable. Galactans have been shown to be 

 characteristic of several of the common conifers. 



The synthesis of acetaldehyde in fruits, H. MtJLLEE-THUBGAtr and A. 

 OsTEEWAXDEB {Landw. Jahrb. Schweiz, 29 {1915), No. 5, pp. 508, 509). — In a 

 study on the influence of sulphur dioxid on yeasts and bacteria in wine and 

 fruit juices it was observed that the sulphurous acid was in some way so 

 chemically bound as to become inactive. Further investigation showed that 

 the sulphur dioxid was bound by the aldehydes present in the juice. Aldehyde 



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