AGRICULTURAL CHEMISTRY — AGROTECHNY. 315 



The figures obtained bj' the method are deemed satisfactory and no plug 

 formation or similar condition talces place. 



A handbook of sugar analysis, C. A. Beowxe (New York and London, 1912, 

 pp. XI +787 +[280], figs. 200).— Thin is a practical and descriptive treatise on 

 the subject of sugar analysis and is meant for use in research, technical, and 

 control laboratories. The contents of part 1, which deals with physical and 

 chemical methods of sugar analysis, are as follows: Sampling of sugar and 

 sugar products; densimetric methods of analysis; principle and uses of the 

 refractometer ; polarized light, theory, and description of polarimeters; theory 

 and description of saccharimeters ; polariscope accessories; 8i)ecific rotation of 

 sugars ; methods of simple and of invert or double polarization ; special methods 

 of saccharimetry ; miscellaneous physical methods as applied to the examina- 

 tion of sugars; qualitative methods for the identification of sugars; reduction 

 methods for determining sugars; special quantitative methods; and combined 

 methods and the analysis of sugar mixtures. 



The contents of part 2, which deals with the occurrence, methods of prepara- 

 tion, properties, and principal reactions of the sugars and allied derivatives are 

 as follows: Classification of the sugars and their formation in nature; the 

 monosaccharids; the disaccharids ; the trisaccharids and tetrasaccharids ; the 

 amino sugars and the cycloses; and the sugar tables are appended. 



A number of sugar tables are appended. 



Quantitative determination of reducing sugars by Lehmann's method, 

 L. Grimbebt (Bill. Soc. Chim. France, J^. ser., IS {1913), No. 3, pp. 117-120; 

 noted in Chem. Ztg., 37 {1913), No. S3, p. 334).— The author states that excellent 

 results may be obtained if a sufiQcient amount, but not an excess, of dilute acid 

 is used in the method', and if the liberated iodin is titrated indirectly by adding 

 an excess of sodium hyposulphute and then titrating back with iodin. 



The estimation of methyl alcohol in spirits, etc., J. Hetpeb {Ztschr. TJnter- 

 snch. Nahr. u. Genussmtl., 24 {1912), No. 12, pp. 731-737; a&s. in Chem. Ztg., 37 

 (1913) y No. 35, Bepert., p. 163). — In this method it is first necessary to take the 

 specific gravity of the distillate obtained from the solutions made acid and 

 alkaline in order to determine their total alcohol content. With an alcohol con- 

 tent of 45 to 55 per cent by weight, according to the table which accompanies 

 the article, the specific gravity of ethyl and methyl alcohol shows very little 

 difference. The distillate is then diluted to from 0.91 to 0.915, and a definite 

 amount of potassium permanganate solution containing phosphoric acid is added 

 whereby the methyl alcohol is converted into carbon dioxid and the ethyl 

 alcohol is oxidized into acetic acid. One gm. of methyl alcohol requires 187.5 

 cc. of normal potassium permanganate solution and ethyl alcohol only 87 cc. 



The other volatile substances present in spiritous liquors, with the exception 

 of furfurol and ethyl ether, have no marked effect upon the results. 



About the analytical estimation and technical preparation of cellulose, 

 J. KoNiG {Festschrift 84. Versamml. Deut. Naturf. u. Arzte von der Med. 

 Naturio. Gcsell. Miinster, 1912, pp. 78-86). — This article deals with the various 

 kinds of cellulose, the different methods for determining cellulose, the factors 

 which interfere with the results obtained in the analyses, and the present-day 

 methods for obtaining pure cellulose from different sources. In addition to this 

 the use of cellulose as a feeding stuff, for paper making, and for alcohol manu- 

 facture is considered. 



Estimation of cellulose in woods and textile fibers, J. Konig and F. Ht'HN 

 {Ztschr. Farb. Indus., 11 {1912), No. 14, PP. 209-211; abs. in Chem. Zentbl., 

 1912, II, No. 12, pp. 1066, 1067; Analyst, 37 {1912), No. 440, pp. 510, 511).— 

 This is a reply to the abstract previously noted (E. S. R., 28, p. 805), in which 

 it is maintained that Cross and Bevau have not shown conclusively that 



