74() FXPKHIMKNT STATION RECORD. 



Methods of physical and chemical soil analysis, K. W. Hilcari) {Odifornia 

 Sl<i. Cirr. r>, pp. ~'S,Ji(i. .1). — A revision of methods given in Bulletin 38 of the Bureau 

 of Chemistry of this Department (E. S. R., 5, p. 510), reprinted for the use of students 

 in tlu" college of agriculture of the University of California. 



A rapid gravimetric method of estimating lime, F. B. Guthrie and C. R. 

 Bakkek {Jour, and Proc. A'o//. Sue. Nan South Walc.'i, 36 {190J), pp. 132-134).~ln 

 onler to secure complete and rapi<l oxidation of the calcium oxalate precipitate it is 

 rccomnuMidcd that it be mixed witli amiiionium nitrate before ignition. 



On the determination of calcium in the form of oxalate, J. Van Dormael 

 (AVc Gen. Agron. \^lA)uram'], 12 {1903), No. 11, pp. 495, 496). — Experimental data 

 are reported which indicate that the method proposed by Paguiref (E. S. R., 14, p. 

 737) does not possess any advantage as regards accuracy over the ordinary method 

 of determination and is slower. 



Some recent methods of technical water analysis, H. R. Procter {.Tour. Sac. 

 Cltiin. Ind., 23 {1904), No. 1, pp. 8-11). — A brief review of the progress of investiga- 

 tion along this line, showing the advantages from a technical standpoint of the more 

 exact methods of titration, such as those proposed l)y Hehner and Pfeiffer and 

 Wart ha, over the old soap solution method. The author describes these methods, 

 calling attention especially to some of the sources of error in working with such 

 dilute solutions as most waters present and suggesting means of avoiding errors. 



The separation and determination of iron and phosphoric acid in waters, 

 H. Causse {Compt. Bend. Acad. Sci. Paris, 137 {1903), No. 18, pp. 708-710; Bid. Soc. 

 Chim. Paris, 3. ser., 29 {1903), No. 24, p. 1229). — The author recommends that the 

 iron and phosphoric acid be precipitated in 2 to 3 liters of the filtered Avater by the 

 addition of 0.6 to 0.8 gm. per liter of chloromercurate of sodium p-amidobenzin- 

 suli)honate, the precipitate being allowed to settle for 24 to 36 hours, collected on a 

 filter, and dissolved in hydrochloric acid. The hydrochloric acid solution is evapo- 

 rated to dryness and the residue fused with pure sodium carbonate. The fusion is 

 moistened with nitric acid, dried, and calcined. On treatment with water the phos- 

 phoric acid is dissolved and the iron is left as oxid, which may be collected on a 

 filter. 



The direct estimation of free carbonic acid in natural waters, A. McGill 

 {.Jour, Amer. Chem. Soc, 26 {1904), No. 2, pp. 183-186) .—The apparatus used by 

 the author for this purpose is described. 



The determination of hardness in waters, P. Drawe {Chem. Ztcj., 27 {1903), 

 No. 99, 2>. 1219). — This is a discussion of results obtained b}' means of Pfeiffer's modi- 

 fication of AVartha's method'^' on alkaline waters, in which the temporary hardness 

 was occasionally greater than the permanent hardness. The author ascribes the per- 

 manent alkalinity observed in such waters after boiling to sodium carbonate and not 

 to magnesium carbonate as Pfeiffer claims. 



In the Pfeiffer- Wartha method temjiorary hardness is determined by titration 

 with tenth-normal hydrochloric acid, using alizarin as indicator and completing the 

 titration in boiling solution in a Jena flask. The permanent hardness is determined 

 by adding an excess of a tenth-normal mixture of sodium hydroxid and carbonates, 

 boiling and partially evaporating in a Jena flask, allowing to cool and settle, or filter- 

 ing, and titrating the excess of alkali solution with tenth-normal hydrochloric acid 

 in an ali(iuot jiart of the solution, using alizarin as indicator. Pfeiffer employs the 

 water which has been used for the determination of temporary hardness instead of 

 the original Avater. 



Determination of hardness in waters, E. Basch {Chem. Ztg., 28 {1904), No. 3, 

 p. 31). — A brief discussion of recent investigations on this subject, including a refer- 

 ence to the article by Drawe noted above. Results of examinations by the author 



aZtschr. Angew. Chem., 15 (1902), p. 198. 



