R]-rFAT WORK IX AfiRKllTURAL SCIl'XCR 



CHEMISTRY. 



Report on progress in agricultural chemistry, F. Macit {Chrm. Ztg., 27 {1903), 

 N(i. .I'l, i>i>. 417-42.'). — A ])i-ief revifw \vith luinu'i-dus referenoes to literature pub- 

 lished iluring the past year. 



The cheraistry of plant and animal life, H. Sxyder {Eaaton, Pa.: Chemical 

 Puhlishing Co., 190S, pp. XVII ^- 406, ph. 3, figs. 102). — It is stated in the preface 

 that this book is the outgrowth of instruction in chemistry given iu the School of 

 Agriculture of the University of Minnesota since 1891. The opening chapters are 

 devoted to the elements and simpler compounds of plants and animals and the laws 

 governing their combinations, after which the composition of plant and animal 

 bodies, chemistry of plant growth, composition of feeding stuffs, chemistry of diges- 

 tion and nutrition, rational feeding of animals and men, and other subjects are dis- 

 cussed. Exercises and questions are included. 



Ash constituents of cereals, W. P. Gamble {Ontario Agr. Col. and Exp>t. Farm 

 Ejit. 1902, 2)p. 48-51). — Determinations were made of the total ash and the different 

 constituents in the grain and straw of barley, the method used being that of Shuttle- 

 worth (E. S. R., 11, p. 304). In the preparation of an ash from a cereal low in 

 silica, as oat straw, the fusion of the ash in the author'^s experience was not pre- 

 vented by this method. Lower figures for silica and higher figures for jwtash than 

 those reported by older methods of analysis were obtained, indicating that previouslj' 

 some of the potash was left in combination with silica. The results of the ajialy.^cs 

 are given in the following tal)le: 



Compomt'inn of harleii asli. 



Constituents. 



.all 



constitu- 

 ents iu 



grainanil 

 straw. 



Material.. 

 Total ash . 



SiO., 



FCoOs 



CaO 



MgO 



PoOs 



k;o 



Na.,0 



so; 



CI 



Per cent. Per rrnt. 



13.8 

 3.4 



13.6 

 3.06 

 0.52 



10.87 

 0.04 



15. 33 

 8.00 



It is estimated that a crop of barley yielding 40 bu. i:>er acre would remove 11.5 

 lbs. of potash and 13 lbs. of phosphorii' acid in the grain and 12.5 lbs. of potash and 

 6.5 lbs. of phosphoric aci<l in the straw. The amount of potash thus removed is 

 greater than usually repoi'ted. The desira])ility of returning the straw to the soil is 

 emphasized. 

 12 



