RFXHNT WORK I\ AGRICULTURAL SCIEN'CE. 



AGRICULTURAL CHEMISTRY. 



Annual reports on the progress of chemistry for 1907 {Ann. Rptx. Prorj. 

 Chcm. {London}, } {tUin). />/*. X+3(>2, fig. J). — This is the fourth vohinie of 

 this series of reviews of projiress in eheniistry issued by the London CheniicMl 

 Society. As lieretofore, it inchides reports on general and physical chemistry 

 hy A. B^indlay, hiorgauic chemistry by H. Marshall, organic chemistry by 

 II. J. II. Fenton, C. H. Desch, and J. T. Hewitt, stereochemistry by H. O. 

 Joues. analytical chemistry by A. C. Chapman, physiological chemistrj- by 

 W. D. Halliburton, agricultural chemistry and vegetable physiology by A. D. 

 Hall, mineralogical chemistry l)y A. Hutchinson, and radioactivity by F. Soddy. 



The section on .igricultural chemistry and vegetable physiology reviews in- 

 vestigations in soil bacteriology, chemistry, and physics; chemistry of the 

 growing plant; manures and manuring; chemistry of animal nutrition; and 

 chemical analysis. "The record of the year includes no notable discovery 

 nor any paper that is likely to be reckoned in the future as of fundamental 

 importance; in several directions, however, good progress has been made, 

 although, as the subject oi)ens up, it is only to disclose its increasing com- 

 plexity." 



General chemistry of enzyms, H. Eilkr (Ergrh. I'hg.sioL. 6 (1907), 187- 

 !'i-!). — An important sunnnary of data regarding enzyms. Such questions are 

 t.iken ui» as classitication, preparation, the influence of temper.it ure on cnzym 

 activity, and the question of kinasiu.s ko-enzyms, or activators. 



The data of geochemistry, F. W. Cl.vrkk ( U. S. Geol. Survrg Bill. 330, pp. 

 711!). — "To bring .some of the data together, to formulate a few of the prob- 

 lems, ;ind to present certain general conclusions in their modern form are the 

 purposes of this memoir. It is not an exhaustive monograph upon geochem- 

 i.stry, l»ut rather a critical sunnnary (»f what is now known and a guide to the 

 more important literature of the subject." The different chapters treat of the 

 chemical elements, the atmosphere, lakes iuid rivers, the ocean, the waters of 

 cIos(m1 basins, mineral wells and springs, saline residu<'s. volcanic gases ,ind 

 sublimates, the niolten magma, rock-forming minerals, igneous rocks, the 

 d«'«'omposition of rocks, sedimentary and detrital rocks, metamorphic rocks, 

 metallic ore.s, the natural Iiydrocarbons. iind coal. 



The determination of the equilibrium of ammonia under pressure, F, 

 IlAiiKK and K. Lk Uossmxor, (/J.sclir. IJIcktrochrm., /'/ (lUOS), Xus. /.>, pp. ISl- 

 l!ii;. pi. I : .{'/. pp. .7/.f. .7/'/; iih.><. in Sri. Ahs., i^rrt. .X—Phps.. II ( /.W.S), .Yo. 12iK 

 p. .».W).— This is a further contribution to the discussion of this subject which 

 has l»een going on for some time between the authors (E. S. U.. 1!», p. 010) and 

 .Nerust and Jest. Further determinations are reported which confirm the 

 author's previous results but do not agree with Nernst's th(H)retical calculations 

 or the results obtained by Xernst and Jest at temperatures between OS"*" and 

 1040" F. 



609 



