636 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



The curcuma reaction for boric acid, A. Goske (ZUchr. Untersuch. Nahr. u. 

 GenussmtL, 10 ( 1905 ), No. 4, />/>■ 242, 243). — A modification is proposed of the German 

 official method for detecting boric acid with curcuma paper, which the author claims 

 is delicate enough to reveal the presence of 0.001 to 0.0001 per cent. 



A long, narrow strip of the paper is allowed to dip into the solution to be tested. 

 Owing to capillary attraction the liquid rises in the paper to a greater or less height, 

 and on the upper edge of the wet portion the red-brown color will be distinctly 

 noticeable if boric acid is present. Soda solution turns this red-brown zone blue. 

 This method reveals the presence of a minute amount of boric acid in many sorts of 

 common salt, therefore it is pointed out that the character of the salt must be known 

 in testing for boric acid in ham, bacon, etc. 



The qualitative detection of boric acid, O. Mezgee (Ztschr. Untersuch. Nahr. 

 a. GenussmtL, 10 (190~>), No. 4, pp. 243-245). — A modification of the German official 

 method for detecting boric acid with a hydrogen name is proposed. 



After incinerating a suitable sample (15 or 20 gm.) previously moistened with 

 sodium-carbonate solution, a portion of the ash is tested with curcuma paper and the 

 remainder placed in a flask with 15 to 20 cc. of methyl alcohol, the flask being fitted 

 with a reverse condenser. Two cc. of concentrated sulphuric acid is added and the 

 mixture warmed on a water bath at 70° for a quarter of an hour. Hydrogen gas 

 passed through the mixture after cooling will give the characteristic green flame if 

 borax is present. 



Quantitative estimation of vanillin, J. Hams [Ztschr. Untersuch. Nahr. u. 

 GenussmtL, 10 (1905), No. 10, pp. 585-591). — According to the analytical data 

 reported, nitrobenzhydrazin is the most satisfactory reagent for the quantitative 

 estimation of vanillin in vanilla, vanilla commercial products, and extracts. 



Paints and paint products, E. F. Ladi> and 0. D. Holley (North Dakota Sta. 

 Bui. 67, }>/>. .~>;- r >-604). — This bulletin contains information on paints and paint prod- 

 ucts, especially as regards the character of various products entering into the prepa- 

 ration of paints, and is occasioned by the recent State law taking effect January 1, 

 1906, and which was enacted for the purpose of preventing adulteration and decep- 

 tion in the sale of paints, which it is the duty of the director of the station and his 

 assistants to enforce. The present bulletin deals only with white paints, while future 

 bulletins will treat of other paints and also oils, oil substitutes, and driers. Analyses 

 of 28 samples of paint are reported. 



METEOROLOGY— WATER. 



Monthly Weather Review (Mo. Weather Her., 33 (1905), Nos. 6, pp. 233-286, 

 figs. 12, charts 9; 7, pp. 287-348, pis. 4, figs. 7, charts 9; 8, pp. 349-384, fig. 1, charts 9; 

 u, j>/>. 385-432, Jigs. 8, charts 9). — In addition to the usual reports on forecasts, 

 warnings, weather and crop conditions, meteorological tables and charts for the 

 months of June, July, August, and September, 1905, recent papers bearing on 

 meteorology, recent additions to the Weather Bureau library, etc., these numbers 

 contain the following articles and notes: 



No. 6. — Special contributions on Tornado of June 5, 1905, at Binghamton, N. Y. 

 (illus. ), by W. E. Donaldson; A Novel Type of Record Sheet Adapted to Seismo- 

 graphs, Aerial Meteorographs, etc., by C. F. Marvin; Observations of Atmospheric 

 Electricity After the Eruption of Mount Pelee, May 8, 1902 (illus.), by A. W. 

 Wright; Improved Methods for Finding Altitude and Azimuth, Geographical Posi- 

 tion, and the Variation of the Compass (illus. |; and Annual Rings of Tree Growth, 

 by E. E. Bogue (see p. 669); and notes on the scientific staff of the AVeather Bureau, 

 inventions patented by < rovernment employees, seismology in the United States, the 

 Libbey circle in seismology, the Piche evaporometer (illus.), the associations <»i 



