718 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. fVol. 35 



The relative value of cane and beet sugar for fermentation purposes, O. 

 Grove {Univ. Bristol, Ann. Rpt. Agr. and Hort. Research Sta., 19U, pp. 32. 35).— 

 In fernjentation tests beet sugar was found to yield better results than cane 

 sugai-. 



" Leaving out of consideration that most of the samples sweetened with cane 

 sugar did not Iveep, but were attacked by a bacterial disease, whereas all tlie 

 beet-sugar samples remained in good condition, the flavor of the cane-sugar 

 samples was in all cases inferior. . . . Tliat is, the peculiar taste of cane 

 sugar was easily detected, whereas the beet sugar did not give any new flavor 

 to the cider, but simply acted as a neutral sweetener, wliich, of course, is 

 preferable. This result, being somewhat contrary to previously accepted views, 

 . . . needs further confirmation by fresh experiments before mucli importance 

 can be attached to it." 



The fermentation of cane molasses; composition of rum, Kayskk {Ann. 

 Falsif., 9 (1916), No. 90-91, pp. 121-127).— Thii^ article indicates the importance 

 of the apparatus and method used in the distillation of rum as affecting its 

 quality, and submits analytical data of a number of samples of rum fermented 

 under varying degrees of acidity, with tlie use of 3 per cent anunonium tluorid, 

 in the presence of both an abundant and a limited supply of air, and with 

 various yeasts. 



On the transformation of the nitrogenous substances during the forced 

 curing of tobacco, L. Hernakdini {Ann. R. Scitola Sup. A(;r. I'ortici, 2. scr., 12 

 (1914), pp. 347-359). — It was found that in rhe forced curing of tobacco there is 

 no appreciable destruction of protein substances, nicotin, or ammonia. There 

 is, however, a loss of total soluble nitrogen which is apparently due to a loss of 

 amino acids. An oxidation which converts a part of the insoluble nitrogenous 

 substance to a soluble form is also apparent, and may in some degree account 

 for the loss noted. 



It is indicated that, while the results submitted do not exclude the fermenta- 

 tion theory of tobacco curing, it appears that the process is nevertheless to a 

 large extent purely chemical. 



Note on the detection of faulty sizing in high-grade papers, C. F. Sammet 

 iJovr. Indus, and Engin. Cfiem., 8 (1916), No. 5, p. 476). 



METEOROLOGY. 



Meteorology in relation to agriculture in Canada, R. W. Stupakt and R. W. 

 Mills {Intcnuit. Inst. Agr. [Rome], Internat. Rev. Sci. and Pract. Agr., 7 

 {1916), No. 2, pp. 177-179). — This article explains briefly what the Meteoro- 

 logical Service of Canada is now doing and plans to do along this line, contain- 

 ing practically the same information noted from another source (E. S. R., 

 35, p, 15). 



Meteorological observations, F. Eredia {Agr. Colon. [Italy], 10 {1916), I, 

 Nos. 1-2, pp. 35-79, pis. 6, figs. 17; S, pp. 131-150, pis. 4, figs. 13: 4. PP- 190-212, 

 pis. 4, figs. 12; 5, pp. 239-266, pis. S, figs. 10; 6, pp. 309-322, pi. 1, figs. 6; IF, 

 No. 7, pp. 245-280, pis. 2, figs. 10). — This article describes the construction, in- 

 stallation, and operation of meteorological instruments suitable for observa- 

 tions in the Italian colonial possessions. 



The frequency of low temperatures at "Vercelli (Italy) And its effect on 

 the cultivation of rice, B. Makcarelli {Oior. Risicolt., 5 {1915), No. 22, pp. 

 555-360, fig. 1; abs. in Internat. Inst. Agr. [Rome], Internat. Rev. Sci. and 

 Pract. Agr., 7 {1916), No. 2, pp. 192, 193). — It was found that the minimum tem- 

 perature limits are of great importance in the early stages of the growth of rice, 

 this mininuim limit being from 46 to 50° F. The maximum rate of growth was 



