AGRICULTURAL CHEMISTRY. 1105 



the molybdk' solution and aiiotlier 500 cc. of water, and filter after standinj^ for 

 2 hours. 



On the quantitative determination of potash, H. KiJiiL (Phann. Zentral- 

 lialh', ',0 {1909), No. 7, pp. 127-129). — Methods for the determination of potash 

 in potash salts, sludge, and other oriranic substances are briefly described. 



Determination of insoluble phosphoric acid, F. li. Cakpentkk (Jour. Indus, 

 and Enyin. ('hem., 1 (1909), Xo. 2, p. 119). — Attention is called in this article 

 to the dithculty of securing an ammonium citrate of uniform composition by 

 the othcial methods. 



The determination of phosphoric acid in Thomas slag- by weighing- the 

 yellow ammonium phosphomolybdate precipitate, Z. Romanski (Cheni. Ztg., 

 33 (1909), No. (i, pp. J,(j, .',7, fit/. 1; Ztschr. Angew. Chem., 22 (1909), No. 9, p. 

 1,00; abs. in Jour. Chcm. Soc. [London], 96 (1909), No. 556, II, p. 182; Chcm. 

 Zcnthl., 1909, I, No. 7, p. 580). — The author i-eports tests of a modification of 

 the Lorenz method in which the ordinary Wagner molybdic solution is used 

 for precipitation in presence of a mixture of nitric and sulphuric acids (34 cc. 

 of sulphuric acid of 1.84 sp. gr. in 1 liter of nitric acid of sp. gr. 1.2) and the 

 precipitate is finally washed with benziu (sp. gr. 0.64 to 0.7) instead of ether. 

 The results obtained by this method in a large number of determinations were 

 found to agree quite closely with those obtained by the Wagner molybdic 

 method. 



Determination of caustic lime, P. Philossophoff (Chcm. Ztg., 33 (1909), 

 No. 8, pp. 67, 68). — It is maintained that Pfipel's ammonium chlorid method 

 (E. S. R., 20, p. 703) is inaccurate on account of the fact that calcium car- 

 bonate will drive off ammonia from ammonium chlorid in warm solution. 



Prog-ress report of the committee on standard methods of chemical analy- 

 sis of water and sewage, E. B. Phelps et al. ( Amer. Jour. Pub. Hyg., 18 

 (1908), No. Jf, pp. .'il9-Jf2It). — This is a summary of information secured from 

 replies to a circular of inquiry. It refers to changes suggested in methods of 

 determining turbidity, free ammonia, organic nitrogen, nitrates, copper, hard- 

 ness, manganese, hydrogen sulphid, free chlorin, alum, sewage sludge, putresci- 

 bilit.v in sewage work, filter control, and field assay of water. 



The examination of waters in place, H. Klut (Untersuchung des Wassers 

 an Ort und Stelle. Berlin, 1908, pp. VII+lo9, figs. 29). — This is a revision and 

 enlargement of an article first published in Pharmazeutischen Kalender, 1908. 

 It gives plain directions for the taking of samples and for quickly testing tem- 

 perature, turbidity, color, organic matter, smell, taste, nitrous and nitric acids, 

 ammonia compounds, hardness, reaction, bacteriological character, iron, free 

 carbon dioxid, dissolved oxygen, lead, and manganese. 



Detection and determination of nitrates and nitrites in water, Tabuteau 

 (Arch. Med. Angers, 1908, Sept. 20; abs. in Ann. Chim. Analyt., 1', (1909), No. 1, 

 pp. 17-19). — Various methods which are available for detecting and determining 

 nitrites and nitrates together and nitrites alone are discussed. 



A new method of detecting- nitrites in drinking water, A. Rochaix (Compt. 

 Rend. Hoc. liiol. [Paris], 66 (1909), No. 1,, pp. 171, 172).— The method proposed 

 is based upon the blue coloration produced when a solution of toluylene red is 

 added to water containing nitrous acid. 



The estimation of urea in urine, S. R. Benedict and F. (iEPIiart (Jour. 

 Amer. Chcm. Nor., .iO (1908), No. 11, pp. 1760-176',) .—\i\ the F)roposed method of 

 the estimation of urea in urine, .^) cc. of urine and an equal volume of dilute 

 hydrochloric acid (1 volume acid to 4 distilled water) are mixed in a wide test 

 tube with the top covered by folding a piece of lead foil over it. and placed in a 

 small autoclave heated to a temperature of 150° to 155° C. for about 1* hours. 

 88800— No. 12—09 2 



