202 EXPEBIMENT STATION EECORD. 



preparation and detection of glucosids; researches with radio-active rays; and 

 movement of gas and water in the plant (transpiration, root pressure, etc.). 



Discussions of the Eighth International Congress of Applied Chemistry 

 (Orig, Commun. S. Internat. Cong. Appl. Chem. [Washington and New York], 

 27 (1912), pp. XIII-\-190). — This includes the discussions of the various sections, 

 among them analytical, inorganic, agricultural, and organic chemistry; industry 

 and chemistry of sugar; India rubber and plastics; fermentation; fats, fatty 

 oils, and soaps; paints, drying oils, and varnishes; starch, cellulose, and paper; 

 hygiene ; pharmaceutical chemistry ; bromatology ; biochemistry, including phar- 

 macology ; electrochemistry ; and law and legislation affecting chemical industry. 



Researches on cellulose, C. F. Cross and E. J. Bkvan {N&io York, Lo)idon, 

 and Bombay, vols. 2, 1906, pp. XI-\-184; 3, 1912, pp. Z+i75).— These are the 

 second and third reports on this topic (E. S. R., 13, p. 916). Volume 2 deals 

 with cellulose as a typical colloid ; cellulose as a chemical individual ; cellulose 

 and structural forms — dimensions; nitric esters; aceto-sulphates ; cellulose- 

 xanthogenic acid ; cellulose and alkaline hydrates ; theory of dyeing ; electrolytic 

 phenomena ; constitution of cellulose ; hydrocellulose ; mixed esters — chloracetyi 

 derivatives of hydrocelluloses, etc. ; animal digestion and assimilation of cellu- 

 lose; destructive fermentations; and technical progress in cellulose industries, 

 and a general forecast of technological developments. 



Volume 3 deals with cellulose in relation to biological science; its constitu- 

 tion; cellulose esters, acetate, and comparative studies of acetylation, formyl 

 derivatives, and xanthogenic esters; lignocelluloses, reactions with halogens, 

 constitution, and study of autoxidation ; technical developments, textile industries 

 (bleaching, paper making, and commercial jute and "heart-damage") ; special 

 industries; artificial fibers, film products, and applications of cellulose acetates. 

 The use of bastol, a product made by treating sawdust with aqueous sulphu- 

 rous acid, and which is used as a constituent of some cattle feeds in England 

 is also discussed. 



Relation of the reducing power to the fermentative capacity of various 

 carbohydrates, E. Schlichting (Abs. in Orig. Commun. 8. Internat. Gong. Appl. 

 Chem. [Washington and New York], 26 (1912), Sects. Vla-XIb, p. 85).— The 

 paper gives the results of a large number of experiments from which the author 

 has drawn the following conclusions : 



"(1) All results found for the amount of actual fermentable sugars by the 

 fermentation method are generally too low, and form about 1 to 6 per cent less 

 than the real amount of sugars present, excepting in mixtures of equal parts of 

 saccharose and dextrose. (2) Fermentation methods of sugar determination 

 should be invariably carried out with pure cultures of yeasts, under uniform 

 conditions of time, temperature, nature, and quantity of yeast nutrients. (3) 

 Certain real relations undoubtedly exist between the reducing power and the 

 fermentability of sugars which enable the analyst to find the correct amount 

 of fermentable sugars, especially when only 2 carbohydrates (of those men- 

 tioned) are present. (4) When more than 2 sugars are present in the solution, 

 the results found for fermentable sugars by their reducing power are from 3 

 to 6 per cent in excess of the truth." 



On koji acid, a new organic acid formed by Aspergillus oryzae, T. Yabuta 

 (Orig. Commun. 8. Internat. Gong. Appl. Chem. [Washington and Neio York], 25 

 (1912), Sects. I-Ve, pp. 455-462). — Large quantities of an acid obtained from 

 A. oryzce grown on steamed rice were prepared. Saito has previously described 

 this acid as |3-resorcyl-carbonic acid. The empirical formula for the recrystalli- 

 zation product was found by this investigator to be C12H14O8. " From the copper 

 salt, as well as from the acetyl and benzoyl derivatives, the presence of 2 car- 

 boxyl and 4 hydroxyl groups in the molecule has also been ascertained, so that 



