RECENT WORK IN AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE. 



AGRICULTURAL CHEMISTRY— AGROTECHNY. 



Physiological chemistry, A, P. Mathews {New York: William Wood & Co., 

 1915, pp. Vlll+lOJfO, pi. 1, figs. 78).— This text is divided into three parts : (1) 

 Tlie chemistry of protoplasm and the cell; (2) the msunmalian body considered 

 as a machine, and its growth, maintenance, energy transformations, and waste 

 substances; and (3) practical work and methods. The text is illustrated with 

 many figures and contains at the end of each chapter a short list of references 

 to original work bearing on the subject dealt with. 



Biochemical hand lexicon, edited by E. Abdekhalden {Biochcmisches Iland- 

 lexikon. Berlin: J. Springer, 1915, vol. 9, ErgUuzungsh. 2, pp. Vl+JflS). — A 

 continuation of the work previously noted (E. S. R., 30, p. 707). The sections 

 included in this volume are as follows : Proteins ; peptones and kyrins ; pro- 

 tein oxidation products ; polypeptids ; amino acids ; nitrogenous derivatives 

 of proteins of unknown constitution ; urea and its derivatives ; guanidin, 

 creatin, and creatinin ; amins ; bases of imknown or uncertain constitution ; 

 cholin, betain, neurin, muscarin, etc. ; indol and indol derivatives ; nucleo pro- 

 teins and nucleic acids ; pur in substances ; and animal coloring matter. 



Quantitative laws in biological chemistry, S. Akrhenius (London: G. Bell 

 & Sons, Ltd., 1915, pp. XII-{-164, figs. 36). — Tlie subject matter of this volume 

 is based on three Tyndall lectures given at the Royal Institution in London in 

 1914. Biochemical phenomena are considered in tlie liglit of physical chemistry. 

 The chapters include an introduction ; the velocity of reactions ; the influence 

 of temperature on the velocity of reactions ; reactions of cells ; the quantitative 

 laws of digestion and resorption ; chemical equilibria ; and immunization. 



Oils of the coniferge. — V, The leaf and twig, and bark oils of incense cedar, 

 A. W. ScHOKGER (Jour. Indus, and Engin. Cliem., 8 (1916), No. 1, pp. 22-24, fig- 

 1). — The leaf and twig and the bark oils, respectively, of incense cedar are 

 found to have approximately the following percentage composition : Furfurol 

 trace, trace ; 1-a-pinene from 12 to 16 and from 75 to 85 per cent ; 5-sylvestrene 

 and S-limonene from 54 to 48 and ? per cent ; dipentene ? and from 5 to 6 

 per cent ; bornyl actetate 8 and 1 per cent ; free borneol 4 and 2 per cent ; 

 "libocedrene" from 6 to 7 and ? per cent ; "green oil" 2 and 3 per cent ; losses 

 6 and 6 per cent. 



See also a previous note (E. S. R., 33, p. 409). 



Polymerization of Chinese wood oil, C. L. Schumann (Jour. Indus, and 

 Engin. Chem., 8 (1916), No. 1, pp. 5-15, figs. 2). — As the result of a comprehen- 

 sive investigation the author concludes that the polymerization of Chinese 

 wood oil takes place by the union of double bonds of the (wood oil) fatty 

 acids, analogous to the polymerization occurring on heating linseed oil. The 

 polymerization is "mesomorphic"' and the intermediate product can be isolated. 



A satisfactory method for the examination of wood oil may be based on the 

 property of elaeomargaric acid to crystallize from a dilute alcohol solution. 

 33859°— 16 2 607 



