EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



Vol. XXIX. Abstract Number. No. 3. 



RECENT WORK IN AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE. 



AGRICULTURAL CHEMISTRY— AGROTECHNY. 



Dynamic biochemistry or the cheniistry of life processes, S. Frankel 

 (Dynamische Biochemie. Chemie der Lebensvorgdnge. Wiesbaden, 1911, pp. 

 XI+600). — The conteuts of this book are as follows: Physical and chemical 

 processes occurring in tissues ; special chemical changes in the organism ; 

 ferments ; digestion ; resorption ; assimilation ; metabolism ; chemical functions 

 of indi\idua] organs, as the liver, etc. ; internal secretions ; sex ; chemical func- 

 tions of certain organs; blood; and immuno-chemistry. 



Physico-chemical tables, J. Castell- Evans (London, 1911, vol. 2, pp. 

 XIV+549~1235). — This is the second volume of this large compilation of 

 tables, vrhich is meant for analysts, physicists, chemical manufacturers, and 

 scientific chemists. It deals with physical and analytical chemistry. The pre- 

 vious volume was devoted to chemical engineering, physics, and chemistry. 



Studies in regard to gliadin, the alcohol soluble portion of wheat gluten, 

 A. ScHLEiMER (Ztschr. Gesam. Getreidew., 3 (1911), No. 6, pp. ISS-Ij^O; abs. in 

 Chem. Ztg., 36 (1912), No. 48, Repert., p. 240).— The solubility of gliadin in 

 ethyl alcohol is dependent upon the concentration of the latter, being most 

 soluble in a 55 per cent solution, as noted by Hoagland (E. S. R., 27, p. 111). 

 It is somewhat less soluble in methyl alcohol and more soluble in propyl alcohol 

 (40 per cent). 



Formation of fats in oleaginous fruits. — III, Investigation of the leaves 

 of the Japanese privet, F. Scubti and M. Fornaini (Ann. R. Staz. Chim. Agr. 

 Sper. Roma, 2. set:, 5 (1911), pp. 223-239). — This is a continuation of the work 

 previously noted (E. S. R., 2G, p. 801) in which the oleanol of the olive and the 

 ligustrol of the privet were displaced by fatty acids and finally by neutral fats. 

 The leaves, on extraction with ether extract, were found to contain ligustrol, 

 besides other substances. 



Lectures on cellulose, C. F. Cross (London, 1912, pp. 52). — These are the 

 lectures on cellulose given before the Institute of Chemistry of Great Britain 

 and Ireland, and intended especially for the younger members of the institute. 



The topics dealt with are as follows : Cellulose and derivatives ; prototjiJes 

 of colloids ; colloids ; preponderating importance of colloids ; investigations of 

 colloids, and colloidal state, hitherto mainly " two dimensional ; " the " normal 

 cellulose" and normal processes of preparation; significance in science and 

 industry ; " systematic chemistry of cellulose " on half -sheet of note paper ; 

 specialist literature of cellulose, of library dimensions ; meaning of this rela- 

 tion ; ligno-celluloses ; constitution ; methods of resolution ; wood celluloses ; by- 

 products, and utilization, illustrative of chemist's balance sheet of industrial 



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