AGEICULTUEAL CHEMISTRY AGROTECHNY. 15 



an averaj^e sucrose content of 12 per cent. In the juice from the stalks of 

 plants on which the cobs were allowed to remain, the average amount of sucrose 

 was 8.2 per cent. Plants cobbed at the same period, that is, between April 2 

 and 9 showed an average of 11.5 per cent of sucrose. It is estimated that the 

 stalks would yield about 585 lbs. of sucrose per acre, and 80 lbs. of glucose. 



Objectionable nitrogenous compounds in sugar-cane juice, F. Zerban 

 (Orig. Commun. 8. Internat. Cong. Appl. Chetn. [Washington and New York], 8 

 (1912), Sect. Va, pp. 103-111). — After reviewing the literature pertaining to 

 the injurious nitrogen which is contained in very small amounts in sugar-cane 

 juice, the author states that none of the different substances reported, viz, 

 leucin, asparagin, glutamin, and glycocoll has been definitely identified. As a 

 result of the investigation it was found that the mercuric precipitate from sugar- 

 cane juice contains principally asparagin, and small amounts of glutamin and 

 tyrosin. The fact that asparagin was present is corroborated by L. M. Dennis 

 of the laboratory of Cornell University. 



The investigations were carried out in two different places. "The first of 

 these, the Agricultural Experiment Station in Tucuman, Argentina, lies within 

 the Temperate Zone, while the second, the experiment station of the Porto Rico 

 Sugar Producers' Association, is in the Tropics. The methods used were prac- 

 tically the same in both places." 



The practical results to be obtained by determining the injurious nitro- 

 gen in sugar beets, G. Friedl {Kis^rlet. Kozlem., 15 {1912), No. 5, pp. 801- 

 808). — The figures for available white sugar on the basis of the injurious 

 nitrogen content of the beet were lower than the values shown by Stammers' 

 calculations. The amount of molasses obtained agreed well with the injurious 

 nitrogen determination. Very valuable data can be obtained by determining 

 the injurious nitrogen colorimetrically (E. S. R., 23. p. 514). 



Inversion of saccharose and its relation to the qualitative changes of 

 various feed beets during storage, W. Jekelius (Kiihn Arch., 2 {1912), pt. 1, 

 pp. 149-192, figs. 5).— The relation noted by Stephani (E. S. R., 29, p. Ill) 

 between the diminution of polarization and the formation of invert sugar with 

 various kinds of beets during storage was confirmed by this investigation. 

 Varieties with a high sugar and dry substance content showed a lower invert- 

 ing capacity than beets having a low total solid content, while the tendency to 

 invert sugar formation stood in a direct relation to the yield of beets. No 

 relationship between inverting capacity and the other constituents of beets, 

 1. e., nitrogen, protein, ash. and the ash constituents, could be established. 



The inversion noted seems to be a purely pbysiologcal process, but it is also 

 influenced by external conditions. For instance, injuring a beet, or boring 

 brings about a marked inversion of the saccharose. Temperature and the 

 methods of storage also influence the degree of inversion. Total sugar and 

 dry substance seem to run fairly parallel also in stored beets. Accordingly, the 

 estimation of the dry substance in the spring in beets high in invert sugar will 

 give us a better measure than will the polarization test. With varieties which 

 show a low degree of inversion, polarization in the spring will give the identical 

 figures obtained with the gravimetric method for total sugars. 



The determination of total sugars stands in direct relation to the formation 

 of invert sugar; there are, however, varieties and individual beets which can 

 produce up to springtime considerable invert sugar without showing marked 

 loss of total sugar. Inversion and polarization of sugar can, according to this, 

 be two functions which are independent of one another. 



Manufacture of a sugar-beet flour (beet meal), and its use in the alimenta- 

 tion of man and beast, A. Aulagd {Orig. Commun. 8. Internat. Cong. Appl. 

 Chem. [Washington and New York], 25 {1912), Sects. I-Ve, pp. 479-483).— ThlB 



