METEOKOLOGY WATER. 311 



Detection of cocoanut oil in butter by means of the " silver value," 

 C. Barthel (Ztschr. I'ntrr.such. Xahr. u. GcnussintJ., 15 (190S), Xo. 8, 2)p. 

 /i87, JiSS). — By the use of the method of Wijsmau aud Reijst in examination of 

 pure butters aud mixtures of butter and cocoanut oil the author at first ob- 

 tained results which gave indication that the method could be used for detect- 

 ing the presence of cocoanut oil in butter, but in later experiments with pure 

 butters the method appeared to be unreliable. Butter produced by cows fed on 

 sour beet roots yielded a second " silver value " that was appreciably higher 

 than the first. 



Notes reg'arding' cacao butter, F. Strube and D. Sohne (Ztschr. Offentl. 

 Clicm., I'l ilOOS), Xo. .'i, PI). 67-70). — The author reports certain chemical and 

 physical data obtained in the examination of cacao butter from different 

 sources. He found that dilferent methods of separation of the cacao butter had 

 no appreciable effect upon the constants of the substance. For the detection of 

 foreign fats employed in the adulteration of cacao butter the author recom- 

 mends the method of Cohn. 



Digestion and distillation apparatus for nitrogen determination, G. Jakob 

 {Gervuin Patent Xo. S0-'i.2U2; Ztschr. I'licni. ApiHirutenk.. 3 (190S), No. 5, pp. 

 122, 123, fig. 1 ) . — A convenient and compact device for digestion and distillation 

 in the same set of flasks is described. 



Tbe determination of nitrogen according to Dumas, H. Leeman (Cliem. 

 Ztg., 32 (1908), No. .'il, p. 496, fig. 1; abs. in Analyst, 33 (1908), No. 388, pp. 

 296, 297). — A device for controlling the flow of carbon dioxid through the com- 

 bustion tube is described. 



Flask for fat detei-mination, W. L. Dubois (Jour. Amcr. Chem. Soc, 30 

 (1908), No. 5, pp. 797, 798, figs. 2). — A flask for use in fat extraction is de- 

 scribed, which, according to the author, may be readily cleaned. 



Report on the most important progress in agricultural chemistry during 

 the last year, A. Stutzer (Chem. Ztg., 32 (1908), No. 38, pp. 466-468). ^The 

 most important scientific contributions to the assimilation of plant food through 

 the roots of plants, fertilizers, and animal nutrition are briefly I'eferred to. 



Annual report for 1907 of the consulting chemist, J. A. Voelcker (Jour, 

 Roy. Agr. Soc. England, 68 (1907), pp. 210-220) .—Analyses of a number of 

 feeding stuffs and of fertilizers and miscellaneous materials are reported. 



METEOROLOGY— WATER. 



Wireless telegraphy and meteorological information (Rev. 8ci. [Paris], 

 5. ser., 9 (1908), No. 17. p. 527). — This is a brief statement regarding the extent 

 to which wireless telegraphy has been used in Great Britain and the United 

 States for the dissemination of meteorological information. 



The application of wireless telegraphy to the improvement of storm warn- 

 ings, G. BiGOXJKDAN (Compt. Rend. Acad. Sei. [Paris], 146 (1908), No. 17, pp. 

 885-887; ahs. in Rev. Sci. [Paris], 5. ser., 9 (1908), No. 19, p. 603).— The advan- 

 tage of a knowledge of the meteorological conditions at sea which can be 

 attained by means of wireless telegraphy is pointed out. 



The development of meteorological observations in Africa (Rev. Sci. 

 [I'aris], 5. ser., 9 (1908), No. 19, p. 594). — This is a brief account of progress 

 made in establishing systematic meteorological observations in different parts 

 of Africa. 



Weather observations in connection with cultural and fertilizer experi- 

 ments, Grohmann (Fiihling's Landw. Ztg., 57 (1908), No. 8, pp. 290-298).— 

 The value and importance of such observations are pointed out. 



