528 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



A method for the determination of carbonates in soils, A. Amos (Jour. Agr. 

 Sri., 1 (1905), Xo. 3, pp. 322-326, fig. 1). — The author reports the successful use on 

 soils containing very small amounts of calcium carbonate of a form of Brown and 

 Escombe's modification of Hart's method. This is based on absorption of the carl k m 

 dioxid driven off from the soil sample (by boiling with hydrochloric acid) in a 4 

 per cent solution of sodium hydroxid in a Reiset absorption apparatus, and double 

 titration, first with phenolphthalein and then with methyl orange as indicator, of 

 the mixed solution of sodium hydroxid and sodium carbonate obtained. 



Contribution to chemical methods of water examination, A. Bomer (Ztschr. 

 Untermch. Nahr. u. Genussmtl., 10 (1905), pp. 129-143; abs. in Chem. Centbl., 1905, II, 

 Xo. 10, pp. 788, 789). — This article discusses the results of examinations of various 

 samples of water from moors, wells, and springs, especially with reference to their 

 suitability to domestic and industrial purposes. 



Some points about water analysis, C. D. Howard (X. H. Sanit. Bui., 2 (1905), 

 Xo. 9, pp. 145-148). — A brief discussion of the value of analysis for judging of the 

 sanitary condition of waters and of the sources and means of prevention of contam- 

 ination of the water supply. 



A modification of Winkler's method of determining" oxygen in water, H. 

 Noll (Ztschr. Angew. Chem., 18 (1905), Xo. 45, pp. 1767, 1768).— The essential feature 

 of the modification is the reversal of the order of addition of manganous chlorid and 

 potassium iodid, the addition of the iodid following that of the chlorid in the Noll 

 modification instead of preceding, as in AVinkler's original method. It is claimed 

 that in this way more accurate results are obtained. 



Note on the report of the work of the international committee for the 

 analysis of commercial fertilizers and feeding- stuffs to the Fifth Interna- 

 tional Congress of Applied Chemistry at Berlin, 1903, T. B. Wood (Jour. 

 Agr. ScL, 1 (1905), Xo. 3, pp. 366-373).— The history of the work of this committee is 

 briefly outlined and the recommendations which were presented and unanimously 

 accepted at the Berlin congress are given. 



Chemical analysis of feeding stuffs and its relation to feeding experi- 

 ments, V. Storch (Ber. K. Vet. og Landbohojskoles Lab. Landokonom. Fors'dg 

 [Copenhagen], 58 (1905), pp. 180, charts 8) . — The author gives an historical sketch 

 of the development of the analysis of feeding stuffs and the various methods by which 

 attempts have been made since Thaer's time to determine feeding value. He also 

 presents a critique of the so-called Weende methods of analysis, and explains in de- 

 tail the methods employed in the analysis of feeding stuffs by the chemical depart- 

 ment of the Copenhagen Experiment Station. 



The faults of the conventional methods of determining nitrogenous components, 

 cellulose (crude fiber), and nitrogen-free extract are discussed at length and availa- 

 ble data summarized. The author recommends that albuminoid nitrogen be deter- 

 mined instead of total nitrogen. Since the variations in the nitrogen content of the 

 various nonalbuminoid components in plants and feeding stuffs are so great as to 

 preclude the adoption of any single conversion factor, he advocates doing away with 

 the factor 6.25 for conversion of albuminoid nitrogen to albuminoids, and, on the 

 basis of the results of the investigations of Ritthausen, Chittenden, and Osborne, 

 suggests that the factors 6.0, 5.7, and 5.5 be adopted for substances of different origin, 

 as follows : For corn, oats, buckwheat, white beans, soja beans, rape seed cakes, pota- 

 toes, mangolds, hay and straw, the factor 6.0. For wheat, rye, barley, wheat bran, 

 rye bran, peas, horse beans, vetches, sesame cake, and candlenut cake, the factor 

 5.7; and for peanut cake, cottonseed cake, sunflower seed cake, linseed cake, hemp- 

 seed cake, almond cake, cocoanut cake, and Brazil nut cake, the factor 5.5. 



The various methods proposed for the determination of cellulose (crude fiber) are 

 considered at length, comparative results being given. According to the author, no 

 satisfactory method for determining this constituent is available as yet and he rec- 



