AGBICULTUEAL CHEMISTRY— AGKOTECHNY. 121 



Lactose and its behavior in aqueous solutions, W. Fleischmann and G. 

 WiEGNEB (Jour. Lmidw., 58 (I'JIO), No. 1, pp. Ji5-6If, figs. 2; ahs. in Jour. Chem. 

 Soc. [London], 98 {1910), No. 572, I, pp. 362, 36'5).— "The specific gravity 

 values obtained by Scbmoeger for solutions of lactose up to 36 per cent and 

 those given in the present paper for greater concentrations may be calculated 

 as functions of the concentration x in weights per cent by tbe following 

 formula: D^f =0.9982+3.75S5x.l0— '+1.1284xM0— '+5.8405x■M0-^ Tbe for- 

 mula gives values for D up to 62.05 per cent of crystallized lactose. With con- 

 centrations of 11.96 per cent tbe D is correctly given by tbe first three members 

 of tbe equation. The probable value for D of pure liquid lactose is D\" =1.5453. 

 "When lactose is dissolved in water, a contraction, varying with tbe concentra- 

 tion, tabes place, being greatest in solutions containing 54.03 per cent, in wbich 

 tbe contraction amounts to 0.596 cc. in 100 gm. of solution. Assuming otber con- 

 stituents of milk to have no effect, tbe contraction in 100 gm. of average milk, 

 due to lactose, will be 0.094 cc, and will Aary between 0.077 and 0.116 cc. The 

 results of calculations of the volume of milk from the sum of tbe volumes of 

 tbe single constituents make it probable tbat the specific gi-avity of liquid pro- 

 teins is about D{^ 1.46." 



Ferrocyanid of potash as an indicator in glucose estimation, E. Selvatici 

 (Bui. Assoc. Chim. Sucr. et Distill., 21 {1910), No. 12, pp. 1119-118.',).— ik 

 quick and simple metbod is described as a substitute for the usual Fehling's 

 method. The reagent emploj'ed consists of 15 gm. of potassium ferrocyanid 

 dissolved in a liter of water, 10 cc. of which is mixed with 10 cc. of tbe Feh- 

 ling's solution when required. Tbe saccharine solutions are clarified with 

 acetate of lead as usual. 



Studies with the chlorophyll group. — About the formation of phyllotaonins 

 from chlorophyllan, H. Malakski and L. Marchlewski {Biochem. Ztschr., 28 

 {1910), No. 1, pp. .'i8-52). — As the result of their work tbe authors state tbat by 

 saponifying chlorophyllan a substance is obtained among tbe products which 

 behaves optically as does allophyllotaonin. The autbors will report later iu 

 regard to whether this body is identical with the one obtained from alkacbloro- 

 phyll and zinc prophyllotaoninen. See also a previous note (E. S. 11., 23, 

 p. 708). 



Presence of stachyose in the underground parts of labiate plants, L. Piault 

 (Jour. Pharm. et Chim., 7. ser., 1 {1910), No. 5, t)p. 21,8-255; abs. in Jour. 

 Chem. SoG. [London], 98 {1910), No. 510, II, p. 336).— "As the result of pre- 

 liminary experiments on the action of invertase on extracts of a number of 

 labiate plants, tbe author examined Stachys lanata, S. sylvatica, 8. recta, 

 Origanum vulgarc, Mentha sijlvcstris, Ballota foetida, CUnopodium vulgare, 

 Salvia splendens, and S. pratensis, and isolated stachyose from eacb of these 

 plants. The sugar was examined by the determintion of melting point, optical 

 rotation, and water of crystallization in each case. Details of the method of 

 extraction are given. By beating stacbyose with a 2 per cent solution of sul- 

 phuric acid at 100° iu closed tubes, levulose only is split off in tbe first 10 to 

 20 minutes." 



The catalase of molds, A. W. Dox (Jour. Amcr. Chem. Soc, 32 (1910), No. 10, 

 p. 1351-1361, fig. J).— "From the experiments described iu tbis paper it is evi- 

 dent tbat molds contain the enzym catalase. first in the intracellular form, then 

 gradually allow it to escape into tbe medium as an extracellular enzym. Just 

 how this cbange is effected is not definitely known as yet, but it seems probable 

 that some of the fungus cells undergo disintegration, or at least a loss of vi- 

 tality, iiy which an opportunity is afforded the enzyms for diffusion or mechani- 

 cal release into the medium." 



